There can be many causes of headaches, among them are quite understandable and easily eliminated, such as school fatigue, eye strain, or infectious diseases, for example, ENT organs, most often sinusitis. 

A headache that occurs in a child always causes anxiety. There can be many causes of headaches, among them are quite understandable and easily eliminated, such as school fatigue, eye strain, or infectious diseases, for example, ENT organs, most often sinusitis. At the same time, there are headaches, the mechanisms of which scientists argue about to this day. Let’s talk about them. Among these chronic headaches are migraines and tension headaches.

Migraine in children most often makes itself felt for the first time in the elementary grades of school, however, sometimes it can occur in very young children. Tension headaches mainly affect school-aged children. The exact causes of these ailments still cause controversy among experts today.  

Course of the disease

A tension headache manifests itself as a dull, pressing pain in various parts of the head. Migraine for young children is not a typical ailment, but if it occurs, it manifests itself in the form of dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and pale skin, while headaches may be completely absent. In primary school children, migraine most often manifests itself in the form of sudden attacks of headache, with the pain localized in one side of the child’s head and felt as a throbbing sensation. In this case, the child may feel nausea, possible vomiting, sensitivity to light and sounds, and abdominal pain. On average, a migraine attack lasts two hours.

When to see a doctor:

• Contact your doctor within the next two weeks if your child’s headaches become more frequent;
• if the child complains of a headache again and again, despite the fact that he gets better between attacks;
• if you notice changes in your child’s behavior or if your child wakes up again and again with a headache in the morning;
• Contact your doctor immediately if your child has a severe headache and nothing helps;
• if, with a headache, the child’s temperature rises and torticollis develops;
• if the headache is accompanied by convulsive twitching or severe weakness.

Doctor’s help

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe medication and, if deemed necessary, additional examination to clarify the causes of the headache.

Your help to the child

In fact, all children with headaches benefit from a strict daily routine with adequate sleep and physical activity. With migraines, as a rule, good sleep and isolation of the child from external stimuli help; Regular physical activity will help with tension headaches. Neck massage and cold or warm compresses will help alleviate symptoms; Kindergarten children are allowed to apply peppermint or eucalyptus oil to the temples or back of the neck.