Headache / Migraine in Children
A headache is pain in your child’s face or head. Headaches happen to 25% of younger children and 75% of adolescents. In fact, migraines are one of the top five most common diseases in children. Headaches are very common in both adults and children, and there are more than 150 types.
Headaches are common in children. Among children between 5 and 17 years of age, 20% have reported getting headaches. The most common types of headaches in this age group are tension headaches (reported by 15%) and migraines (reported by 5%).
Children’s headaches differ from adults in the following ways :
Children’s headaches often don’t last as long (between two hours and 72 hours).
Children feel the pain all over their head, instead of just one side or section.
Children have more stomach complaints, including abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea.
Migraines are episodic (occur a few times a month), severe headaches where your child experiences sensitivity to light and noise followed by nausea and vomiting. Migraines can be hereditary. About 60% of people who have migraines also have an immediate family member (mother, father, sister, and/or brother) who have them.
There are four main treatments for your child’s headaches. We may recommend one or more of the following :
Medications.
Headache education..
Lifestyle changes.
Stress management.