Understanding Recurrent Headaches in Children: Causes and Solutions

Are you tired of your children getting headaches every other day but don't know what to do? If yes, then you don't need to panic anymore because we have come up with the easiest solutions. To find the solutions, you must first know the causes of these headaches. These are mostly due to infections like colds and flu, head traumas and injuries, and emotional factors like stress and anxiety, genetics, and certain foods.

The treatment of headaches in children is easy. If they are mild, they can be treated with over-the-counter medication, and if they are severe, with prescription medication. Therapies like relaxation therapy, biofeedback training, and cognitive therapy are also recommended. Let's know about them in detail here, wasting any time.

What Are The Causes of Recurrent Headaches in Children?

Are you confused about why your child is getting recurrent headaches? If so, then it can be due to various reasons. Some of the most common causes of recurrent headaches in children have been mentioned below:

1. Illness and Infection: Illness and infection, such as colds, flu, and sinus infections, are the most common causes of headaches in children. Meningitis and encephalitis are also caused in rare cases.
2. Head trauma: Bumps and bruises on the head can also cause headaches. Mostly, the head injuries are minor but need medical attention. If your child falls and gets a head injury, take them to the doctor to prevent adverse consequences.
3. Emotional Factors: Emotional factors like stress and anxiety are other reasons for headaches in children. They might have a problem with their peers, parents, or teachers. If your child complains of headaches frequently, you should talk to them and make them feel better.
4. Genetic Factors: Genetic factors can cause Headaches and Migraines in children. Yes, you heard it right. Like many other diseases, headaches can run in families and are transferred to children.
5. Foods and Beverages: Certain foods and beverages can also cause recurrent headaches in children. Nitrates, food preservatives used in cured meat, and overdosage of caffeine found in chocolates and soda drinks can cause headaches.
6. Problems in the Brain: Brain tumors, abscesses, or bleeding in the brain presses some areas in the brain, causing severe headaches. But in that case, there are some other observable symptoms, too, like lack of coordination and dizziness.

Recurrent Headaches in Children: Available Treatment Options

Are you looking for solutions for recurrent headaches and migraines in children? Look no further. Recurrent headaches in children can be treated at home in several easy and effective ways. Rest in a quiet place, drink plenty of fluids, eat a balanced diet, and take over-the-counter painkillers. Prescription medications and therapies are also needed if the headache is severe and not treated with over-the-counter painkillers. Let’s learn about these treatment options in detail here:

Over-the-counter pain Relievers And Prescription Medicines:

Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are effective for headaches in children. They are usually taken at the beginning when the headache is not very severe. But remember, if your child is recovering from the flu or chickenpox, they must not take aspirin. In that case, aspirin can cause life-threatening conditions like Reye’s syndrome. If your child experiences severe headaches that are not treated with over-the-counter medication, you must consult a doctor. Triptans are the most common drugs used, and they are effective for children older than 6 years. If the child also has nausea and vomiting along with headache and migraine, the doctor might prescribe an anti-nausea drug with painkillers.

Therapies For Recurrent Headaches in Children

If the headache is caused by stress and anxiety, your doctor will prescribe some therapies. These therapies include relaxation training, biofeedback training, and cognitive behavioral therapy, depending on the severity of the condition.

1. Relaxation Training: Relaxation training, such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and muscle relaxation, relaxes your muscles and mind. Books and videos can help you teach these techniques to your children at home.
2. Biofeedback Training: In this type of training, your child learns to control their body responses that relieve their headache. During the training session, children are connected to devices that monitor their body functions and give feedback. In this way, they learn to reduce their heart and breathing rates and get relaxed.
3. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: In cognitive behavioral therapy, children learn to manage stress so that they have fewer headaches and migraines. During the therapy session, the counselors teach them different ways to cope with life problems with a positive attitude.

How To Prevent Headaches in Children?

Do you want to know some good and effective tips to prevent headaches in children? Don’t worry; headaches in children can be prevented by some simple and easy ways like adopting healthy behaviors like sleeping, eating, exercising, and reducing stress. Here is how you can do this.

• Healthy Behaviors: A good way to prevent headaches is to practice healthy behaviors that promote your child's health in general. These practices include getting good sleep, participating in physical activities, eating a healthy diet that is not high in sugar, and limiting caffeine intake. You should also restrict your child's screen time to prevent headaches.
• Reduce Stress: Stress and hectic routines increase the frequency of headaches. You should be aware of things that trigger your child's stress levels and keep them away from people and activities that bother them. Also, make sure that they spend most of their time in comfortable, quiet, and well-lit environments.

Conclusion:

If your child is getting recurrent headaches, and they are not going away, you should try simple solutions. But before that, you should know about the causes of these headaches, which are infections, head trauma or injuries, stress, anxiety, and genetic predisposition. You can treat these headaches with over-the-counter painkillers, plenty of water, and a healthy diet and exercise. If that doesn’t work, you should see a doctor who will prescribe you better medicine and therapies.