HEADACHE

Symptom Definition

Causes

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WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Call 911 now (your child may need an ambulance)if:

Call your doctor now (night or day) if:

Call your doctor within 24 hours (between 9am and 4pm) if:

Call your doctor during weekday office hours if:

Parent care at home if:


HOME CARE ADVICE

  1. Pain Medicine:  Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain relief (see Dosage table). Headaches due to fever are also helped by fever reduction.
  2. Food:  Give fruit juice or food if your child is hungry or hasn't eaten in more than 4 hours (reason: skipping a meal can cause a headache in many children).
  3. Rest:  Lie down in a quiet place and relax until feeling better.
  4. Local Cold:  Apply a cold washcloth or ice pack to the forehead for 20 minutes.
  5. Stretching:  Stretch and massage any tight neck muscles.
  6. Migraine Headaches Diagnosed in the Past: If your child's doctor has prescribed a specific medication for migraine, give it as directed as soon as the migraine starts. If not, ibuprofen is the best OTC drug for migraine. Give ibuprofen now and repeat in 6 hours if needed (See Dosage Table). Also, have your child lie down in a dark, quiet place and try to fall asleep. People with migraine often awaken from sleep with their migraine gone
  7. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Headache becomes severe
    • Isolated headache lasts over 24 hours
    • Headache lasts for more than 3 days despite using a pain medicine
    • Your child becomes worse

Treatment for Migraine Headache

  1. Reassurance: This headache is similar to previous migraine headaches that your child has experienced.
  2. Migraine Medication:
    • If your child's doctor has prescribed a specific medication for migraine, give it as directed as soon as the migraine starts.
    • If not, ibuprofen is the best over-the-counter drug for migraine. Give ibuprofen now and repeat in 6 hours if needed (See Dosage Table).
  3. Sleep: Have your child lie down in a dark, quiet place and try to fall asleep. People with migraine often awaken from sleep with their migraine gone.
  4. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Headache become much worse than usual
    • Headache lasts longer than usual

And remember, contact your doctor if your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.


REFERENCES

  1. Elser JM. Easing the pain of childhood headaches. Contemp Pediatr. 1991 Nov; 8:108-123.
  2. Feign RD, et al. Diagnosis and management of meningitis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992;1:785-814.
  3. Fisher PG. Help for headaches. Contemp Pediatr. 2005;22(11):34-40.
  4. Forsyth R, Farrell K. Headache in childhood. Pediatr Rev. 1999;20:39-45.
  5. Gabis LV, Yangala R, Lenn NJ. Time lag to diagnosis of stroke in children. Pediatrics. 2002;110:924-928.
  6. Lewis D. Pediatric migraine. Pediatr Rev. 2007;28(2):43-52.
  7. Lewis DW, Qureshi FA. Acute headache in the pediatric emergency department. Headache. 2000;40:200-203.
  8. Molofsky WJ. Managing stroke in children. Pediatr Ann. 2006;35(5):379-384.
  9. Molofsky WJ. Headaches in children. Pediatr Ann. 1998;27:614-621.
  10. Rubin D, Suecoff S, Knupp K. Headaches in children. Pediatr Ann. 2006;35(5):345-353.
  11. Singer HS and Rowe S. Chronic, recurrent headaches in children. Pediatr Ann. 1992;21(6):369-73.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

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