When a child complains of a headache – check what it could mean.

Headache is not just for adults. It may happen that the child will complain about its presence. The parent’s task is then to carefully observe the offspring and try to determine what causes the ailment, what area it affects exactly and what type of pain it is.

These actions will help us respond appropriately. We may be able to fix the problem ourselves. If not, the information we collect will certainly be useful during the medical interview, when we go with the child to a specialist.There can be many reasons for a child’s headache. Here are the most common of them.

1. Head damage.If you suspect or know that your child has recently hit their head, you need to watch for typical concussion symptoms such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and balance problems.
2. Stress.Here the pain usually appears in the afternoon and evening. It concerns the area of ​​the forehead, temples or occiput. It is worth determining what is the cause of the child’s anxiety to avoid emotional disorders and even depression. Honest conversation and gaining the young person’s trust should bring positive results.
3. Unhygienic lifestyle.Long hours spent in front of the TV or computer, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, too little or too much sleep, too much sun exposure – all this can cause headaches.
4. Cold or flu.Headache is often one of the first symptoms of viral and bacterial infections and infectious diseases, such as chickenpox.
5. Migraine.In children, the pain is usually bilateral, located in the temple or forehead area, sharp and throbbing. In addition to it, there may be: drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, hypersensitivity to sounds or smells, i.e. so-called. aura. Children with at least one parent suffering from migraine are most at risk of migraine.
6. Vision disorders.Systematic, afternoon or evening headaches in a child can also signal vision defects, such as myopia and astigmatism. If you suspect them, take your child to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
7. Ear inflammation.It may be accompanied by severe pain in both the ear and head, and additionally fever, lack of appetite, restlessness, irritability and crying of the child.
8. Sick sinuses.Recurrent headaches, especially severe when bending over, located at the base of the nose or in the area of ​​the forehead, with the co-occurring runny nose and stuffy nose, are most likely a signal that the child is suffering from sinusitis.
9. Neurological disorders.Headache accompanies them rarely, but it can happen with: meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage or brain tumor. These are very serious diseases that require immediate medical attention.
10. Malnutrition.A headache can occur when a child eats too little and irregularly, and his diet is poorly balanced. The consequence is hypoglycemia, i.e. low blood sugar due to too little food.