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Headaches
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Headaches are very common in children, especially school age children and adolescents. The most common causes of headaches are usually viruses, as part of a cold or the flu. More serious, and more rare, disorders include meningitis and brain tumors. You should seek medical attention if your child has a headache and he has persistent vomiting, is very irritable, confused, lethargic (doesn't easily wake up), has difficulty breathing, has a rapid and weak pulse, is refusing to eat or drink, has a stiff neck, difficulty walking or if there has been a recent change in your child's personality. For children with chronic headaches, seek medical attention if a headache is worse that his usual headaches.
- Upper Respiratory Infections: It is common for a headache to accompany an upper respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold, flu, sore throat (either caused by a virus or strep), or sinus infection. If the headache is severe, is worsening, or is accompanied by a high fever, then you should see your doctor for an evaluation.
- Classic Migraine headaches, which can be associated with nausea, vomiting, visual changes, relief with sleep, an aura (visual or sensory changes that occur just before the headache starts), and are usually one-sided, with pulsatile or throbbing pain.
- Common Migraine headaches, which are not associated with vomiting or visual changes, but do get better with sleep. Both types of migraine headaches are usually found in children who have other family members that also have migraines.
- Tension type headaches are also common in children, and are not associated with vomiting or visual changes. These headaches are usually describe as dull and steady, do not get better with sleep, can occur almost daily and are usually triggered by stress.
- Meningitis: an infection of the central nervous system, which can be associated with fever, stiff neck, vomiting, irritability, lethargy (difficulty waking up), seizures, poor appetite, a bulging fontanel in infants, photophobia (a sensitivity to light), low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and rashes. This is a serious infection and you should seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that your child has meningitis. Treatment is supportive, plus antibiotics for bacterial meningitis. Most cases of viral meningitis are just treated with observation.
- Eye strain: Poor vision can cause a headache from eye strain. See your doctor for a vision screening test.
- Brain tumor: warning signs that a headache may be associated with a brain tumor include a worsening or increase in the number of headaches that your child is having, persistant vomiting, seizures, having a headache first thing in the morning or one that wakes him up from sleep, changes in your child's personality, a headache that is worse when lying down or when coughing or sneezing, double vision, or difficulty walking.
- Other causes of headaches can include lead poisoning, hydrocephalus, encephalitis, and arteriovenous malformations or aneurysms.
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