Headaches in children

Like adults, children can occasionally get a basic headache – feeling some discomfort but not bothered for long and not in any jeopardy. But they can also experience more severe headaches, sometimes caused by another health condition.

If you have concerns about your child's headaches, your pediatrician can let you know when to consult a pediatric neurologist. Whether your child experiences occasional, intense headaches or persistent attacks, we can provide relief. Our neurologists have the experience to treat a range of headaches, including migraines.

Types of headaches

Headaches typically start with nerves inside the muscles and blood vessels of the head and neck. Stress, tense muscles and swollen blood vessels can all trigger these nerves.

Headaches can happen once in a while or all the time. For example, some children get migraines once every few years, while others experience them several times a week.

There are two broad categories of headaches:

• Primary headaches: Occur on their own and are more common
• Secondary headaches: Develop because of another medical condition such as a head injury (concussion, for example) or sinus problem

What causes migraines and other headaches?

For primary headaches, possible causes depend on which type your child experiences:

• Cluster headaches: These intense headaches come on in a pattern, or a cluster, up to multiple times a day over weeks or even months. Sometimes there’s a long break between cycles and sometimes there’s not. The headaches often develop on one side of the head or behind one eye. Cluster headaches in children don't usually occur before age 10.
• Tension headaches: These common headaches range in severity and frequency with pressure felt across the head and neck. Tensing the muscles in your head and neck may cause tension headaches, as can feeling stressed or anxious. The headaches also run in families sometimes. Children may wake up with these headaches.
• Migraines: Migraine headaches pulse and throb, can last for more than a day, and may prevent your child from doing much. Migraines in children can be caused by particular triggers such as lack of sleep or certain noises, foods or smells. Both younger and older children can get migraines.

Headache symptoms

Children may not always understand what they’re feeling or find the words to describe it.

The main symptom of a headache is pain that forms in your head (including your face) or in your neck. Sometime the pain comes from more than one area, and it may feel severe enough to keep a child from normal activities.

In addition to pain, headaches in children can cause:

• Congestion
• Blurred vision
• Decreased pupil size and drooping eyelids
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, stomach pain and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or sound

When to seek urgent headache care

Make sure to get medical care right away if your child experiences:

• Sudden and severe headache
• Headache with stiff neck, fever, convulsions, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the ears or eyes
• Headache after hitting their head

Diagnosing headaches

Specialists from our neurology program will ask you questions about your child’s symptoms, medical history and overall health. For mild cases, we may ask your child to keep a diary of what symptoms they experience and when. In other cases, we may recommend diagnostic testing such as blood tests or imaging to make sure their brain is healthy.

Learn more about what to expect during a neurological examination.

Pediatric treatment for migraines and other headaches

Our goal in headache treatment is not only to provide relief from pain and other symptoms but also to prevent future episodes. For secondary headaches, we focus on treating the underlying health condition. For primary headaches, our approach depends on the type of headaches your child experiences and any particular triggers.

Recommended treatments may include:

• Home-based care, such as lying down in a quiet room or taking a warm bath
• Lifestyle adjustments, including getting exercise, sleeping enough and eating well
• Relaxation therapy, including yoga, massage and acupuncture
• Medications, either over the counter or prescription
• Biofeedback, which entails a doctor placing sensors to tell when your child’s body is tense and how they can relax it