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Headaches can be quite common in children
There was a boy of less
than ten who, one day out of the blue, developed a severe
headache. His vision was so blurry that he was unable to see,
and he suffered from severe nausea. Upon examination, the
doctor diagnosed him as suffering from a migraine attack and
recommended a quiet, dark room until the headache passed.
The trigger was unknown.
In the same family, there was a girl who suffered from multiple
migraine attacks throughout high school. Most of her triggers were stress-related, but
some were related to food or hormones. For awhile the migraines were sporadic, or
episodic, usually only occurring due to long trips or caffeine ingestion. The headaches
became more frequent when there was more tension between her and her parents,
usually due to the typical teen-related issues. After the death of a close loved one, the
headaches became almost daily for awhile because of the sudden increase in stress.
In a survey among adolescents ranging in age from ten to seventeen, nearly two-thirds
of them reported experiencing headaches.
Brain tumors are usually the parent's biggest fear when it comes to headaches in
children, but that is rarely the case.
There are many medications that can cause or exacerbate a headache or migraine.
Only about one-third of all migraine sufferers have food triggers. Because there are so
many different possible food triggers, restricting someone's diet is not a reasonable
option unless a dietary trigger is found. Caffeine overuse is common amongst teenagers who suffer from migraine or chronic daily headache.
Headaches are generally classified the same way in children as they are in adults:
primary and secondary. In children, migraine pain is usually throbbing and almost
always accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Unlike in adults, the migraine is usually
felt on both sides of the head rather than only on one. It is not uncommon for the child
to look pale or glassy-eyed during an attack. They may also experience varying
degrees of irritability.
In general, the most common cause of headaches in children is viral and bacterial
infections, and these headaches only last as long as the illness. Treatment for all
headaches is tailored individually depending on the age and weight of the child and the
frequency and severity of the headaches. It is very interesting to note that the attacks
experienced are often less frequent and intense when the child is reassured that no
serious problem exists
Less than 5% of children suffer from headaches that are a result of a serious disease or
physical problem which includes an abscess (a localized collection of pus surrounded
by swelling), head trauma, tumor, blood clot, intracranial bleeding (bleeding in the
brain), or bacterial or viral meningitis (a swelling and irritation of the membranes
surrounding the brain and spinal cord). These are considered organic causes of
headache, and a physician will probably want to rule them out.
If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, call your physician:
o The child has a seizure or loses consciousness.
o The child loses balance or coordination.
o The child begins sleeping more than usual or too much, or is lethargic or
sluggish.
o The child exhibits a personality change.
o The child experiences weakness, nausea, projectile vomiting, or visual problems.
o The child has a stiff neck and fever in addition to the headaches.
Major triggers of headaches in children and adolescents are lack of adequate sleep,
stress brought on by busy schedules, and poor eating habits. For many students,
transformation from episodic migraine to daily headache coincides with the start of each
new school year. The typical teenager actually needs about nine to ten hours of sleep
per night, but most do not get that.
In very small children, restlessness, irritability, or crying may be the only signs of head
pain. When a headache is caused by head trauma, it may be from a possible
concussion. It may affect only the scalp or bone, or it may affect the brain itself.
See the report on this at: http://tinyurl.com/ohmyhead
Kids who suffer from headaches, especially chronic headaches, tend to lose out on a lot
growing up. Maybe they can't play sports or join the band. They don't make plans to
attend the prom with their friends out of fear of having an attack. Hanging out with
friends at the mall seems to be an almost impossible task. If they lived a headache-free
life, they may not feel like social outcasts because they can actually participate in things
that their friends are doing. They can get in trouble for breaking curfew but know that it
was worth it because of the memories they made. Going out to cheer for the local
football game will no longer be a dream but reality. Life can be more normal.
See the report on this at: http://tinyurl.com/ohmyhead
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