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Parents are usually not alarmed when a child complains of a headache – if it is accompanied by a cold with fever and severe fever. As a rule, with the right treatment prescribed by a doctor, all the symptoms of the disease disappear, and with them the head stops hurting. But how to relate to the fact that the baby complained of pain in the head, while being completely healthy? How should this be perceived – as an alarming symptom or just a childish invention?
Why would a healthy child suddenly have headaches? Parents often believe that this is a purely “adult” disease, and this simply does not happen in children. And they are delusional.
In fact, the head can hurt regardless of the number of years lived. It affects very young children, and adolescents, and people of mature age. According to the international classification, there are 13 main groups and 162 types of headaches. Surprisingly, many of these species are not directly related to head problems in any way.
Therefore, it is very important to correctly determine the root cause of the ailment in order to deal with it, and not with painful sensations. Of course, it is impossible to consider all the reasons here, but it is quite possible to identify several of those that can cause severe headaches that seem to appear out of nowhere.
Vascular disorders
Of all vascular diseases in children, hypertension is the most common. This term, which comes from two Greek words – “hyper” and “tonos”, literally means “excessive tension”.
Hypertension occurs as a result of impaired blood circulation in the brain. With strong pressure surges, the vessels narrow. It does not matter whether this phenomenon is permanent or temporary – the main thing is that the various systems of the body are not sufficiently supplied with blood. It negatively affects them; the brain is especially affected. The reason for the diagnosis of “hypertensive disease” is a systematic (within a month – more than three times) increase in blood pressure.
Factors provoking the development of hypertension can be: heredity, weather conditions, sleep disorders, etc. Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and correct daily routine are very important as preventive measures against hypertension.
Do not rush to give the child medicine – first take a short walk with him in the fresh air. Against this type of headache, soothing tea with chamomile or mint, an infusion of hops, cloves, meadow clover and geranium flowers (1 tablespoon is poured with a glass of boiling water, infused until cool. Take a quarter cup before meals) and beet juice (a third of a glass 3 -4 times a day)
If hypertension is present in a child in a mild form, the headache quickly stops. In more severe cases, medication may be necessary. Without proper treatment, hypertension can lead to pathological changes in blood vessels and internal organs.
Improper diet
Headache attacks in children under the age of five are often provoked by eating certain foods. For example, sausages, sausages, and other processed meats may contain nitrites, preservatives that stimulate vasoconstriction. For an adult, this dose does not pose any danger, and the child’s body does not know how to react to preservatives. A headache attack is caused by the substance tyramine, which is abundant in nuts, yeast, and some types of cheese.
Dietary supplements containing sodium chloride, sodium nitrite, and aspartame can also cause pain. An overdose of vitamin A is also dangerous. In addition, the nutrition of his mother during pregnancy affects the condition of the baby. If she did not eat enough while waiting for the baby, especially in the last trimester, this could lead to a decrease in sugar in her blood. This negatively affects the brain function of the child and leads to the fact that immediately after birth, he will suffer from headaches.
If the cause is indeed malnutrition, the headache is often accompanied by severe vomiting or indigestion. Let the child drink as often as possible – otherwise dehydration may occur. It is useful to give the child green tea with mint, elder flowers or St. John’s wort. And an infusion of birch leaves will help relieve an attack of pain (pour 1 tablespoon with a glass of boiling water, leave for a couple of hours and drink it cold).
If the baby is prone to bouts of pain, it is important to give him food at least five times a day in small portions, and also avoid foods rich in carbohydrates. All the necessary vitamins and supplements can only be prescribed by a doctor. It is important to observe their dosage, in no case exceeding it.
Migraine
Experts believe that the migraine-causing gene is hereditary and is passed down through the maternal line. So if a mother suffers from migraine attacks, then this ailment is likely to be passed on to her child. Migraines are due to insufficient production of serotonin in the brain (this substance is directly related to headaches). Migraine attacks are characterized by throbbing pain in one side of the head, accompanied by dizziness and nausea.
It is not yet possible to completely cure a migraine, but it is quite possible to remove its attack. Sleeping in the fresh air or in a ventilated room will help block a seizure that has just begun.
Freshly squeezed viburnum or blackcurrant juice is also an excellent remedy for migraines.
You can drink a decoction of St. John’s wort (1 tablespoon of dried grass is poured into a glass of water and boiled for 10 minutes over low heat, and then infused under the lid; drink a tablespoon before meals) or potato juice (twice a day, two tablespoons).
It is useful to massage the head before going to bed. Massage is done with both hands, starting from the forehead, gently leading to the back of the head.
Neurological problems
Neuralgic headache occurs when the trigeminal nerve is affected. A characteristic feature of this type of pain is recurring pain sensations with a short time interval, sharp and short, like an electric shock. Sometimes the pain is aggravated by coughing, sneezing, and even a sudden movement of the head. Sometimes it is accompanied by involuntary contractions of the facial muscles. The causes of neuralgic pain are mainly colds and certain types of infectious diseases (mumps), as well as problems with the cervical vertebrae.
In this case, the pills can only give temporary relief. It is good to treat neuralgia with heat, so warming up (Solux, UHF, sandbags, etc.) can give a good effect. Acute attacks of pain are relieved by a warm compress of cabbage leaves (you can take plantain leaves instead) and radish juice.
You can also give your child a drink of tincture of wormwood or yarrow (1 tablespoon per glass of boiling water, leave until cool and drink 5-6 times a day for a tablespoon). To prevent problems with the cervical vertebrae, it is important to monitor the posture of the baby. Do not put it on a soft bed, but instead of a pillow, use a special cushion to support the neck.
Head injury
Children quite often experience head injuries, which can lead to brain injuries. The most noticeable sign of a head injury is loss of consciousness after a fall. But sometimes there are simply no visible symptoms: the child fell, hit, cried and calmed down. Everything seems to be fine. But if after a while the child becomes capricious, complains of a headache and darkening before the eyes, this should alert the parents.
Very young children can throw back their heads and constantly arch their backs, their “mother’s fontanel” swells slightly – this is a sure sign that a blow or a fall was not without consequences.
Immediately after the fall, you should put the child on the bed and turn off the light if it is too bright. Then rub the bruised area – this will help prevent the formation of edema and bruising. You can just gently massage with your palm, or you can apply a cold compress (with water or ice). For a few days after the fall, avoid noisy and moving games with the baby, and if he shows signs of a concussion, such as dizziness or vomiting, go to the doctor immediately.
Psychological problems
The emotional state of the child is directly related to how he feels – this truth has been around for many years. Stressful situations, psychological overload cause a strong tension in the child, and pain comes along with it. In stress, the sensitivity to pain in a child decreases due to a decrease in the level of serotonin and endorphin in the brain.
No need to think that stressful conditions can only cause negative emotions, such as depression after separation from parents in kindergarten. An overly eventful day or noisy, active games before bedtime can also cause a headache in the baby. True, it will not be sharp and strong, but its monotony and duration will also not have the best effect on the child.
In this case, painkillers will not help, and the emphasis is on mild sedatives. Overexcitation and subsequent headache perfectly relieves peony tincture (twice a day, a teaspoon). Of course, it is impossible to protect the baby from all stresses, but you can teach him to develop a protective reaction. It is very important to set the right example here. The child imitates his parents in everything, so if you show him that you are able to maintain composure and endurance even in the most difficult situations, the baby will learn from you.
Talk to your child about his fears, doubts and worries, teach him not to keep them in himself. If you explain to him several times that his worries are groundless, he will believe you and calm down. It is useful to teach a child to play sports from an early age. You can try modern relaxation techniques such as massage or breathing exercises. And, of course, try to give your child positive emotions – this is a good compensation for stress and a powerful incentive for relaxation.
External Factors
Headache in infants can be triggered by a number of external factors that an adult may not pay attention to. It is too bright light, lack of fresh air, loud noise. A very small child is still unable to communicate with the outside world with the help of words – he expresses his displeasure through crying. And parents should be able to determine the root cause of this crying and eliminate it in time.
If the child squints while crying, twists his head and seems to hit her on the pillow – perhaps there are irritating factors that cause the crumbs to have a headache. In the first three months of life, the child may experience seizures.
This type of pain eliminates sleep well in a ventilated room or in the fresh air (for example, while walking). The child should be comfortable. Some children like the “background” of the TV, but still try to turn it on as little as possible. Artificial light in the baby’s room should be soft and muffled, the lamps should not shine directly on him. Ventilation is very important – especially in winter, when the central heating is on, it makes the air dry.
You should not use aroma candles and aroma lamps that are popular today with a child. These remedies are considered soothing and relaxing, but still aromatherapy has a powerful effect, and it is not known how it will affect the delicate children’s body.
PS All of the above remedies for relieving headaches have contraindications. Check with your pediatrician before using them.
Author of the article: Natalya Aleshina, consultant – pediatrician Tatyana Dmitrievna Shymanova