« « I Scream, You Scream: The Truth About an Ice Cream Headache | Migraine Headaches can be Managed Effectively » »

Causes of Kids’ Headaches

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Children have headaches just like adults, sometimes even more frequently than adults do. If the reason for the headache isn’t apparent a doctor should be consulted as kid’s headaches could indicate a more serious condition.

Some apparent causes of kid’s headaches include an injury, an illness, stress or environmental factors. An injury to the head may require medical attention of course, but most bumps are still likely to create a headache even if they do not seem to be too bad at first.

Illness can take many forms, for most kids’ headaches are common with a cold, flu, sinus infection, strep throat or a variety of other common childhood illnesses. Additionally sensitivity to certain foods can also be a trigger for a kid’s headache.

Stress can give anyone a headache, kids’ headaches caused by stress are thought to be more common than adults, and many children have a harder time dealing with intense situations or anxiety. This may be even more common in teenagers because of all the social and emotional changes in their everyday lives.

Environmental triggers are also very common culprits concerning kid’s headaches, bright lights, loud noises, severe smells, smoke or pollution. Even the motion of travel can set a child’s head to pounding.

Children and Migraines

In one study of children under age 17 a startling 8% of boys and 23% of girls said to have had a migraine headache at least once. This gives new insight to kids’ headaches. Parents need to be aware of the possibilities so the most effective treatment methods can be implemented with the help of a doctor.

If a kid’s headache is a migraine they will likely have a sour stomach, sensitivity to light and/or sound. They might also complain of severe pain around the eyes, forehead, and other areas of the head or neck.

One reason girls may experience more migraine headaches than boys do, is because of the hormonal changes that occur with the onset of their menstrual cycle. Hormonal changes have been known to cause both tension and migraine headaches in women.

Tension type headaches are also remarkably common in children; many children feel the stress piling up on them just as adults do. Many kids’ headaches could be relived with relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga.

Kid’s headaches can be hard to diagnose, as such asking the right probing questions can be the determining factor of diagnosis. Knowing that tension headaches present severe pain in the head, neck, and shoulders or that migraines will often be accompanied by nausea and the desire to sleep can help parents choose the best treatments for their children.

Related Links