Headache

When to Call for Headache

Care Advice

Treatment for Mild Headache

1. What You Should Know About Mild Headaches:
   • Headaches are very common with some viral illnesses. Most often, these will go away in 2 or 3 days.
   • Unexplained headaches can occur in children, just as they do in adults. They usually pass in a few hours or last up to a day.
   • Most recurrent headaches that can occur in anyone are muscle tension headaches.
   • Most headaches (including muscle tension headaches) are helped by the following measures.
2. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
   • Use as needed.
   • Headaches due to fever are also helped by bringing the fever down.
3. Food May Help:
   • Give fruit juice or food if your child is hungry.
   • If your child hasn't eaten in more than 4 hours, offer some food.
   • Reason: Skipping a meal can cause a headache in many children.
4. Rest - Lie Down:
   • Lie down in a quiet place and relax until feeling better.
5. Cold Pack for Pain:
   • Put a cold pack or a cold wet washcloth on the forehead.
   • Do this for 20 minutes. Repeat as needed.
6. Stretch Neck Muscles:
   • Stretch and rub any tight neck muscles.
7. Muscle Tension Headache Prevention:
   • If something bothers your child, help him talk about it. Help him get it off his mind.
   • Teach your child to take breaks when he is doing school work. Help your child to relax during these breaks.
   • Teach your child the importance of getting enough sleep.
   • Some children may feel pressure to achieve more. This may cause headaches. If this is the case with your child, help him find a better balance.
   • Caution: Frequent headaches are often caused by too much stress or worry. To be sure, get your child a medical checkup first.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Headache becomes severe
   • Vomiting occurs
   • Headache without other symptoms lasts more than 24 hours
   • Headache lasts more than 3 days
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

Treatment for Migraine Headache

1. What You Should Know About Migraine Headaches:
   • This headache is like the migraine headaches that your child has had before.
   • The sooner a migraine headache is treated, the more likely the treatment will work.
   • Often the most helpful treatment is going to sleep.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Migraine Medicine:
   • If your child's doctor has prescribed a medicine for migraines, use it as directed. Give it as soon as the migraine starts.
   • If not, you can use ibuprofen (such as Advil). It is the best over-the-counter drug for migraines. Give it now. Repeat in 6 hours if needed.
3. Try to Sleep:
   • Have your child lie down in a dark, quiet place.
   • Try to fall asleep.
   • People with a migraine often wake up from sleep with their migraine gone.
4. Prevention of Migraine Attacks:
   • Drink lots of fluids.
   • Don't skip meals.
   • Get enough sleep each night.
5. What to Expect:
   • With treatment, migraine headaches usually go away in 2 to 6 hours.
   • Most people with migraines get 3 or 4 attacks per year.
6. Return to School:
   • Children with a true migraine headache are not able to stay in school.
   • Children with migraine headaches also commonly get muscle tension headaches. For those, they should take a pain medicine and go to school.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Headache becomes much worse than past migraines
   • Headache lasts longer than past migraines
   • You think your child needs to be seen

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.