Avoid MSG in your child's meals as it can trigger headaches. Do eat regular healthy meals that include carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables. Ensure that your child gets at least 8 to 10 hours of undisturbed sleep at night. Maintaining a regular sleep/wake cycle.Counselling or psychotherapy sessions may be required. Identifying and avoiding headache triggers, and addressing sources of stress (including exams and menstrual cycle), mood or anxiety problems.Excessive use of painkillers can lead to rebound headaches (medication-overuse headaches). Giving headache medication only as directed by your doctor.Treatment for chronic headaches requires a holistic approach over several months with the aim of your child returning to normal activities. A doctor will discuss the effectiveness and possible complications of the medications with you before starting the prophylactic treatment. Prophylactic therapy is a type of preventive treatment used when migraines occur frequently or have significant adverse impact on your child's life. However, painkillers should not be given more than 2 days per week to avoid the risk of medication-overuse headache. Treatment principles for primary headaches include using painkillers when needed and minimising triggers such as psychological stress, sleep deprivation and prolonged screen time.Īnalgesics, also known as painkillers, such as paracetamol and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs can be used when your child is experiencing an acute severe headache (tension type headache and migraine). The doctor may order neuroimaging such as Computerised Tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) if clinically indicated. Diagnosis is made usually after a detailed history taking and physical examination. Any neurological deficits such as limb weakness or slurring of speechĪny headache which is getting more frequent or severe will warrant medical attention.Headache which worsens with Valsalva manoeuvre of exertion (forcefully attempt an exhalation while keeping the nose and mouth shut).Parents should look out for signs and symptoms suggestive of secondary causes of headaches. Psychosocial evaluation and support are useful. These may be due to primary headaches or medication overuse. Chronic daily headache is diagnosed in patients who have headaches for more than 15 days in a month.
They are rare in children below 10 years of age. It is associated with increased eye tearing, red eyes and increased nasal secretions. The pain is severe and lasts less than 3 hours. Cluster headache is always one-sided and usually over the forehead or around the eye.In some cases, there may be light sensitivity or visual symptoms including flashes of light or blurring of vision prior to the headaches. In younger children, the headache may be bilateral, over the forehead or sides of the head and lasts for a shorter period of time. The headaches are usually one-sided, throbbing in nature and lasts for hours to days. It is characterised by headaches associated with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and desire to sleep.
Migraine is the most frequent recurrent headache syndrome in childhood.
Tension headaches may be worsened by lack of sleep but are not associated with nausea or vomiting. The headache is diffuse, bilateral, squeezing in nature, of mild to moderate intensity and lasts from 30 minutes to several days.
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