What To Do When Your Child Has A Headache – Parenthood

One of the most common pains is a headache. It affects the neck, the head itself and the scalp. Pain can be due to a variety of causes, be it physical or psychological stress.

Until recently, it was believed that children did not suffer from headaches. But today, we see that this is the case and in infants as well.

The causes of headaches in children can be various (lack of sleep, excessive play in the sun, etc.). The pain may affect a particular area of the head or be diffuse (all over the skull). We will see in this article how it is recommended to act in the face of our child’s headaches.

Causes of headaches in children

In children, headaches can have many causes and varying degrees of severity. It is essential to distinguish between temporary pain or mild discomfort, and more acute pain requiring medical treatment.

These pains can be caused by:

Lack of sleep and fatigue
The dehydration
A blow to the head
Skipping meals
Watching too much television
Have spent a lot of time in front of the computer, if the child is older
After a long journey
Colds, flu, etc.
Oral or ear infection
A migraine

In most cases, headaches in children are simple, short-lived, and do not occur frequently.

Little boy suffering from headache

If you notice frequent pain in your child, which occurs at least once a month, or is of excessive duration, you should see the pediatrician as soon as possible so that he can diagnose the cause of the pain. head.

It is also important for parents to identify if other symptoms are accompanying these headaches, such as vomiting, fever, dizziness, etc. If this is the case, also go to the doctor immediately. This will reassure you and treatment will be established to calm your child’s pain.

Types of headaches in children

Acute headaches

The pain may appear in a specific area of the head or be diffuse. Remember that the sharp pain may be due to otitis media or sinusitis. Dental pain can also cause sharp or diffuse pain in the head.

Diffuse and prolonged headache, accompanied by fever

The main cause is usually an infection. If there is no fever, it could be a head injury, high blood pressure, or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Acute headache, but more common

This pain is often caused by a migraine. This usually appears with nausea or vomiting and may be more frequent when there is a family history. In addition, although rarer, it can be produced by epilepsy. Emotional tension can also produce this type of pain.

Localized or diffuse headache, showing unusual signs

This type of pain should be monitored by your pediatrician or pediatrician if: pain relievers do not ease the pain, if the pain lasts for several days, causes double vision, or wakes the child at night.

What to do when my child has a headache?

The first thing to do is identify the type of pain your child has and how often it comes back. If it is frequent, you should see the pediatrician immediately to identify the type of pain and the treatment to follow.

Little girl lying down suffering from headache

Depending on the pediatrician’s diagnosis, you can administer prescribed treatments along with home remedies that may help decrease pain and will not harm your child’s health. Here are a few :

Put the child in his room without light so that he can rest.
Do breathing exercises to relax if the headache is due to tension pains.
Apply damp cloths to the forehead and neck, alternating hot and cold.
Massage the neck and back of the neck.
Move the arms and hands energetically so that the blood circulates and decongests the head.

Immerse hands in hot water for five minutes.
Take rosemary steam baths.

You will now know how to deal with children’s headaches, in addition to being able to distinguish the types of pain that can occur. It is important when a child complains of a headache to remain calm and reassure them, as tension can make the pain worse.