Headache

WHAT CAUSES HEADACHES?
In children, many headaches are due to falls and other accidents resulting in a bump on the head. More often, however, the headaches have no readily apparent cause. In some instances, however, the nature of the headache points to a possible cause. Migraine headaches, for example, frequently affect one side of the head and are often preceded by visual disturbances such as flashing lights or distorted vision. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. Migraines tend to run in families; thus, a family history increases the likelihood that the child's headaches fall into this category. Although tension headaches are more common in adults and adolescents, they also occur in children, especially during times of stress or fatique. These headaches are characterized by a dull ache that usually starts in the back of the neck and spreads upward to the forehead.

A headache often signals the onset of many childhood illnesses, including chicken pox, measles and other viral infections. Hay fever, sinusitis and swollen or inflamed adenoids also can cause headaches. Still other possible causes of headaches include depression, hunger, fatigue, and in rare instances, brain tumors.

DIAGNOSING A HEADACHE
A child who is old enough to talk will usually complain about head pain. In younger children, possible signs of a headache include crying or fussiness and head rubbing. Squinting may also signify a headache.

Excerpt from THE DISNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BABY & CHILD CARE, (C)1995 DSH Communications, Inc. This material is based on current medical research and, to the best of the editors' knowledge and understanding, is accurate and valid. However the reader should not use information contained in this material to alter a medically prescribed regimen or as a form of self-treatment, without seeking the advice of a licensed physician.