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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffA number of factors, singly or in combination, can cause your child to develop headache. Some of these factors include:
- Illness and infection. Common illnesses such as colds, flu, and ear and sinus infections are some of the most frequent causes of headache in children. More-serious infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis, also can cause headache, but are usually accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as fever and neck stiffness.
- Head trauma. Accidental bumps and bruises can cause headaches. Although most head injuries are minor, seek prompt medical attention if your child falls hard on his or her head. Also contact a doctor if your child has a steadily worsening head pain after a head injury.
- Emotional factors. High levels of stress and anxiety — perhaps triggered by problems with peers, teachers or parents — can play a role in children's headaches. Children with depression may complain of headaches, particularly if they have trouble recognizing feelings of sadness and loneliness.
- Genetic predisposition. Headaches, particularly migraines, tend to run in families.
- Certain foods and beverages. Nitrates — a kind of food preservative found in such foods as bacon, bologna and hot dogs — have been known to trigger headaches, as can the food additive monosodium glutamate (MSG). Also, too much caffeine — contained in foods such as soda, chocolate, coffee and tea — can cause headaches.
- Problems in the brain. Rarely, a brain tumor or abscess, or bleeding in the brain, may create pressure on areas of the brain, causing a chronic, worsening headache. Typically in these cases, however, headache is accompanied by other symptoms, such as visual problems, dizziness, lack of coordination and other neurological problems.
References
- Bronthius DJ, et al. Approach to the child with headache. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 3, 2011.
- Cummings E, et al. Evaluation and management of headache in the pediatric patient. Emergency Medicine. 2009;41:36.
- Abu-Arafeh I, et al. Prevalence of headache and migraine in children and adolescents: A systematic review of population-based studies. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2010;52:1088.
- Cruse RP. Management of migraine headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 3, 2011.
- Cruse RP. Pathophysiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of migraine in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 3, 2011.
- Monteith TS, et al. Tension type headache in adolescence and childhood: Where are we now? Current Pain and Headache Reports. 2010;14:424.
- Cruse RP. Tension-type headache in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 3, 2011.
- Lewis D, et al. Practice parameter: Pharmacological treatment of migraine headache in children and adolescents: Report of the American Academy of Neurology Quality Standards Subcommittee and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Neurology. 2004;63:2215.
- Lewis D, et al. Practice parameter: Evaluation of children and adolescents with recurrent headaches: Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Neurology. 2002;59:490.
- Headaches in children. American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/HeadachesinChildren.asp. Accessed Jan. 4, 2011.
- Anttila P. Tension-type headache in childhood and adolescence. The Lancet Neurology. 2006;5:268.
- Mahoney KR (expert opinion). Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Md. Jan. 10, 2011
- Internal analgesic, antipyretic and antirheumatic drug products for over-the-counter human use: Tentative final monograph. Federal Register.1988;53:46204.
- Mack KJ. An approach to children with chronic daily headache. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2006;48:997.
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