4 Year Old with Bad Headache

My daughter has peanut allergy, the first and only time she has had peanuts she got a terrible headache and threw up a lot, that was just getting an invisible amount on some rice. She has an allergy test and scored very high on peanuts. I guess each time the child is exposed the reaction can be much worse so we avoid peanuts and carry and epipen. maybe your child has an allergy you don't know about.

The same thing just started happening to my 6 year old this summer. We have a history of migraines in our family, and I recognized it right away as a migraine, but was still really concerned. I called the Doctor and she said it could very well be a migraine especially if it's in our family. She just said to keep an eye on him and keep track of when he gets them. The only thing you can do really is just let him sleep it off. My son likes to put a cool rag on his forehead...it helps a lot. And keep him in a dark, quiet place. The throwing up won't really help, and giving him medicine just might make him throw up. It's terrible, but my son has only had it the one time, but then when he was sick with the flu got a really bad headache again!! He's just like me. The doctor also said that usually when kids start getting migraines early on in life, they won't get them when they're older. Let's hope!! I didn't get my first one till I was about 20!! Good luck...and I hope he feels better :)

oh - good to see he's better, hope they don't come back! just wanted to say, yes a yr ago my then 4 1/2yr old son had migraines, screaming/crying middle of night - very scary! headaches thru the day. lasted only a month then gone. was surprised then to find out it's quite common for kids that age. Dr expected to see them again with stress of new baby last October, but he's been fine.

Dear J.,
does anyone in your family have migraines? My family has several people who suffer from migraines and that's why I was only a little surprised when my son in Kindergarten started having them. He normally would wake up early in the morning with headache, start to throw up and may be able to go to school afterwards. I made him go afterwards, because I said no one can tell you that you don't have to cope with that your whole life...
The good thing is, he is now 13 and has a migraine attack about twice a year. Down from when it peaked in 5th and 6th grade to almost every other month. No I am able to give him Tylenol in time, before it would just come back, because the migraine was already too far along. My pedratrician told me when he first started suffering from migraines, that there is a good chance that he will out grow them, unlike me and my mother who didn't have migraines as a child but suffer from them today...
I really hope you went to the doctor because it could also be something much more severe like menigitis...
Good luck and just be supportive and if he starts having attacks more frequent try to remember what might triggers them. I remember that once he forgot his water bottle for soccer practice and the next day he had an attack. I had to tell him firmly if that would ever happen again, to tell the coach, because they very often have spare water bottles with them or in the worst case ask his friend to share his water bottle with him. (Just one friend that my family is close to). Just a slight dehyration for him seams to be one of the triggers...
Good luck to you and your son. One more thing my sister-in-law just called a couple months back, because her son had a headache and she wanted to check with me to find out when these attacks started with my son. So talk to your extended family because sometimes you'll find out medical facts that can help you too.

Make sure you take him to the doctor. A lot of times the throwing up is from built up pressure in the brain. I have a daughter that had a infection in the brain and she now has hydrocephalus. Not saying that anything is wrong with your boy. Low grade fever is good-that means it is nothing bacterial. I saw a woman had said probably a migraine. Which could be the case. My older sister suffers with those and she throws up a lot when she has them and can hardly function some times. So you are doing a good thing by taking him to the doctor. Good luck!! Hope he gets better soon.

Your child likely has migraine headaches. My son started having them when he was 4 also. When I took him to see the doctor the first question he asked is whether I suffer from migraines....I do. My son learned to recognize when a headache was coming on and take Ibuprofen immediately. That generally worked to prevent the headache from becoming debilitating. Good luck.

J.,

This is cause to be concerned. I am not trying to heighten your fears, but I suggest remaining vigilant until this matter is fully resolved. With that being said, I would try, after these initial doctors appointments have taken place, to consider an eye doctor. I have been wearing glasses for 21 years and as a kid before it was realized that I needed them, I had bad headaches where I experienced nausa. And after getting my eyes checked these symptoms subsided. I continue to wear glasses to this day, even with my near perfect vision for this same reason. And if for chance I do not wear my glasses, I still experience headaches. Also, I have a sensitivity to light and when outside I have to wear sunglasses. Your son my have a sensitivity to light as well. Good luck.
- T.

Please get him to the doctor right away! It could be just a cold or virus, but if its something worse, he needs treatment right away! Take care!

Ask your doctor for a CT scan. You never know. Not to worry you but better err on the side of safety than take any chances. Good luck! I will think good thoughts for you.

I think you won't stop worrying until you see the doctor.

This could just be a common allergy or sinus headache instead of a migrane type headache. Ask your Pedi if you can try children's Benadryl and that will tell you you if he has allergies. Make sure his vision is checked as well.

He is now old enough to tell you what he is feeling. I don't know about you, but I definitely get a headache when I have a fever, this may be what he is telling you. Give him a cool rag for the back of his neck, it will feel good and also help to reduce the fever. Lots of hugs help too. =)

Hi J.,

My oldest began to complain of headaches around this age. If it got REALLY bad, then he would throw up (even if I gave him Motrin). But, he ALWAYS began to feel better after he threw up.

I began to learn that he plays REALLY hard at whatever he did, and after leaving daycare (then later) school.....he would have a regular headache.

It became so regular, that I could begin to see it in his face before he would tell me. So, afterschool, his new routine was to lay down with a warm washcloth on his head after I had given him some Motrin. I tried to beat the "throw up".

J., my son is now almost 13 yrs old, and he will STILL get an occasional "migraine-like" headache from playing too hard.

It has nothing to do with food, because he has always been a good eater, so it's just about him getting an occasional migraine headache.

I'm sure you will follow through with your doctor, but in case he tells you it was probably a migraine, you will know that it is possible :o)

~N. :O)

Hi J.,
I know you already got your answer, but my daughter has a friend from school who had the same thing. It lasted 2 days.

Hi J.-
That can be so disconcerting for a mom!
My advice is to get him as hydrated as possible and try some children's tylenol. IF none of that helps the symptoms (I get dehydrations headaches and I have to watch my water intake!)then take him to the doctor. Insist that a blood panel be run for every sort of virus there is- better safe than sorry. You may also want to get his eyes checked. Some kids have bad vision and while you may not notice any changes in their behavior for a while as far as accidents or inability to see stuff, the change can cause migraines, etc. So I think- blood panel, pediatrician, and eye doctor.
I really hope that helps and that your little one feels better!
-E.

Hello J.: I am so sorry for your little guy. I get migrains and have found that if I don't get enough fluids inme esp. when it is hot or humid my headaces get worse. Just a thiught to think about. Hope that your doctor was able to give you help. Nana G

There is an intestinal bug going around that starts with a nasty headache, low fever and vomiting.

My son has abdominal migraines and migraine headaches but never has a fever with either of these.

J.
I was in bed last week with a migraine headache, vomiting and the runs. Turns out it was the flu going around, and my daughter had it the next day when I was feeling better.
W. M.

Hi J.,

When my daughter was five she went through the same thing, we found out it was migraines brought on by allergies. We got the allergies under control and the headaches went away. When our son was 8, he all of sudden had headaches and vomiting - went on for a couple of months - we took him to the doctor several times who always said flu, allergies....it turned out it was a strep infection on his brain and he had to have surgery.
Take your son to his doctor immediately and if the headaches contine, demand a cat scan. I'll pray for the best .

J.

It sounds like a migraine to me. My neice who is now 13 started having them when she was four. SHe wouls have a horrible headache, vomitting, and sometimes a fever from her body reacting to such bad pain. The fact that he had a hard time sleeping is another sign. Usually with a regular headache a little painkiller and sleep helps. Kids with Migraines tend to have difficulty sleeping. I hope that is not the case but you should see the doctor regardless. I hope he is feeling better soon.

It sounds like a migraine to me. Migraine specific meds work really well, but I don't know whether o not they're prescribed for children. Your doctor will advise you after he's chekced your son. In the meantime, try an ice pack on the back of his neck. If you place a thin towel between the pack and his skin, it can stay in place 15-20 minutes. Never leave an ice pack on bare skin for more than 5-10 minutes. The pack has done it's job when he's experienced the sensations cold, burning, numb. If he can articulate what's he's sensing, ask him questions to guide you for timing, otherwise leave the pack in place 20 minues. This can be repeated every 30 minutes or so. If you don't have an ice pack, a bag of frozen veggies works well as a substitute. I hope he feels better soon.

Hi J. A,

It seems to be common these days with our children getting more headaches. Make sure you have him checked out to rule out anything not normal.

We get symptoms because we are not in balance. If you are dehydrated or lacking protein or even tired you can get headaches. We are exposed to lots of toxins in our environment today and that is also a problem.

There is going to be a Children's Wellness Expo in Alameda on Sept 12th addressing the health challenges we have with our children and a natural and safe solution to make a difference.

There will be a panel of doctors and nurses sharing how to make your home to a healthy home.

If this interest you let me know and I will send you more info.

N. Marie

It could be a migraine. My son when he was very young use to scream and cry that his head hurt. I didn't know then, but realized years later that he was having a migraine. He said he felt a stabbing pain in his eye and the only thing I could do for him was to keep him in a dark room and he would lay down and fall asleep finally. He did get tunnel vision as well and it didn't happen all the time. Actually very seldom.

He did grow out of it as he is now 27 years old.

This is just a thought. It is just so unusual for kids to get headaches.

Roxy