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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffChildren get the same types of headaches that adults do, although their symptoms may be different. For example, a migraine in an adult almost always affects just one side of the head, whereas a child's migraine often affects both sides of the head. Also, migraines in children typically don't last as long.
Migraine
Migraines can cause:
- Head pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Extreme sensitivity to light and sound
Even infants can have migraines. A child who's too young to tell you what's wrong may cry and hold his or her head to indicate severe pain. Migraines in children may last an hour or more.
Tension-type headache
Often, stress related, tension-type headaches feature a pressing tightness that occurs on both sides of the head. They can last from 30 minutes to several days.
Chronic daily headache
Both migraines and tension-type headaches can begin happening more frequently. If your child has headaches more than 15 days a month for more than three months, doctors call this a "chronic daily headache." This problem can occur when your child takes pain medications — even the nonprescription variety — too frequently.
Cluster headache
This is the least common type of headache in children. It's usually disabling and involves a sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the head that lasts less than three hours.
When to see a doctor
Seek a doctor's advice if your child's headaches:
- Occur at least once a month
- Follow an injury, such as a blow to the head
- Feature persistent vomiting or visual changes
- Are accompanied by fever, along with neck pain or stiffness
- Moe PG, et al. Neurologic and muscular disorders. In: Hay WW Jr., et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3405364. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
- Lewis DW. Headaches in children and adolescents. American Academy of Family Physicians. 2002;65:625.
- Cruse RP. Management of migraine headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
- Cruse RP. Pathophysiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of migraine in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
- Brazis PW, et al. Approach to the child with headache. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 9, 2009.
- Anttila P. Tension-type headache in childhood and adolescence. The Lancet Neurology. 2006;5:268.
- Treatment of migraine headache in children and adolescents. American Academy of Neurology. http://www.aan.com/professionals/practice/pdfs/Headache_Peds_Patients.pdf. Accessed Jan 13, 2009.
- Mack KJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 16, 2009.
- Mahoney KR (expert opinion). Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md. Feb. 4, 2009.
- Internal analgesic, antipyretic and antirheumatic drug products for over-the-counter human use: Tentative final monograph. Federal Register.1998;53:46204.
