Headaches are very common among children and are not usually a sign of a serious underlying condition. The headaches are often caused by stress, anxiety, depression, lifestyle, minor head trauma and common illnesses such as colds, flu and ear infections. The headaches can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications and lifestyle changes.
Types of Headache
As with adults, children can develop various different types of headache, with the most common types being migraine and muscle tension headaches. The symptoms children develop tend to be different from those seen in adults. For example, when a child experiences a migraine, the pain may last for less than four hours, where as it can last a lot longer in adults. The different symptoms children experience can make it difficult to diagnose the exact type of headache a child has, but usually, it is possible to categorize the headache. In general, they are classified as the following:
Migraine
These are severe, episodic headaches that are associated with the following symptoms:
- Pounding or pulsating head pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Pain that becomes worse on exertion
Tension-Type Headaches
Tension headaches occur on a daily or periodic basis and may last anywhere from half-an-hour to several days. Tension headaches do not usually cause the same signs and symptoms seen in migraine. Symptoms may include:
- Tension in the head or neck muscles
- Pain that does not intensify with exertion
- A non-throbbing, mild-to-moderate pain felt on both sides of the head
- Absence of the nausea and vomiting often seen with migraine
Cluster Headache
Cluster headaches usually occur in a series of at least five episodes, with the child experiencing anything from one headache every other day to eight headaches per day. Symptoms include the following:
- Sharp pain in one side of the head lasting less than three hours
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Restlessness
- Irritability
Source: Medicalnews
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