From a very young age a child may experience infantile headaches and even infants may experience headaches, but we have no way of knowing this. Headaches can manifest themselves at this age by crying, irritability or similar symptoms. Be that as it may, this is not the age to look out for. It is from the age of 4 years, approximately, when a child begins to acquire sufficient awareness to be able to report pain in a region as specific as the head when it comes from the inside and not from a blow, wound or burn. Even at this age, some refer the discomfort by pointing to the head or verbalizing the pain.
Frequent headaches in children and their causes
Most headaches in children are mild and are related to catarrhal or febrile processes, in which congestion or a rise in temperature directly triggers the discomfort. Moreover, they are transitory and disappear when the fever goes down or the catarrhal process improves.
Migraine-type headaches or tension headaches are also relatively frequent in children. Sometimes they are triggered by visual causes such as myopia, which should be studied and, if necessary, corrected. Other times, they are due to fatigue or stress and in many cases the origin is purely migraine.
When should headaches in children be a cause for concern?
Headaches are very frightening, but they are rarely due to serious causes. To be alert, the parents and the neurologist must value some signs that can indicate seriousness to us before a child headache:
- Pain that does not yield to the usual analgesics.
- Pain that is accompanied by significant and repetitive vomiting, especially in the morning.
- Pain that causes nocturnal awakenings and does not allow rest.
- Pain associated with stiffness in the back of the neck or altered level of consciousness.
Recommendations for children with frequent headaches
Children who complain frequently of headaches require an ophthalmological and neurological examination. It is important to rule out the existence of a visual impairment, which, once corrected, will solve the problem. Otherwise, it is necessary to evaluate the possibility that it is a migraine headache in children. In this situation, depending on the characteristics of the pain, its frequency and intensity, the attitude to be taken should be decided. There are cases that may require specific pharmacological treatment for migraines if they do not improve with the usual measures.