Headaches in My Child

It could be migraine headaches caused by stress or tension. I have suffered with them all my life. I can remember them as far back is 1st grade. They were frequent and incapacitating. Sometimes the the severity of the pain caused nausea as well. A migraine or stress/tension headache can sometimes be confused with a sinus headache because the pain is often in the sinus areas. Mine usually run down one side of my neck as well, but I don't think that they always did. I believe that started when I was older. I remember in the 6th and 7th grades that my doctor tried me on a daily med to help prevent them but it did not really seem to help. I do have allergies as well with my sinuses often swollen and stuffy. I still have difficulty with knowing if I should treat a headache as sinus or migraine. Mostly I just treat it as both. I take Sudafed and my migraine med together and hope for the best and quick relief.

Headaches can be a viral infection with or wihout fever,dehydration (not getting enough water) for sure & too much sugar & salt in a diet,lack of fruit & veggies.Why did the Dr put her on an allergy medicine what was that about?Is there any changes in the home or at school.Has her vision been checked by an eye Dr.?For now give her Tylenol let her rest & keep up on water even when she isn't thirsty & see how they subside don't offer her anything else besides water for atleast 2 weeks well it depends how often she is getting them nothing with "caffeine"

I had horrible headaches as a child and nobody could ever figure out why. Fast forward to my teenage years when I started having horrible nosebleeds to go with the headaches - finally I was referred to an ENT who did an MRI. Come to find out I had had a horrible sinus infection my whole life due to a congenital defect in my sinuses. There was no opening on one side for the sinuses to drain, so they became horribly infected and stayed that way for probably 10 years. I had sinus surgery to correct the problem, and the headaches went away.

I would ask for a referral to an ENT - she may have a sinus issue that is not related to allergies. Just a thought!

Ruling out something more serious (CT scan can do that), it could just be migranes (my son started with them around age 4). The CT scan would show if it was sinus pressure too.

You've gotten a lot of good answers already. The cause of headaches can be hard to pinpoint. My first plan of action would be to check for food additive sensitivites. I get severe headaches from MSG (monosodium glutamate - in so many processed foods), artificial colors, artificial flavors, NUTRASWEET (BIG headache cause), Aspartame, Adobo seasoning, etc. Does your daughter eat processed foods (chips, fruit snacks, flavored drinks or diet drinks/foods?). Could be as easy as eliminating everything but non-processed foods for a while until you find the cause. If it doesn't occur in nature in the form you're eating it, it's probably processed and has something artificial. If there are more than a few things listed as ingredients, it's probably got something in it that's not natural and therefore, could produce a headache. I also think the suggestion of making sure she's drinking enough water is a good one.

When was the last time you had her teeth checked? My son got headaches and the dentist found a molar that was sideways under the gum.

not enough water? - have her drink 8 oz in the morning and in the afternoon after school. get rid of sugar and food coloring as well.

stress? does she have a settled routine and not more than 2 outside of school activities during the week? Kids really get overwhelmed by too many events - they need down time just to play (not on the computer/tv/Wii) outside or in their room peacefully.

Does she have alot of hair? My friends daugher is part indian and has very think hair and has suffered from headsches alot her mom shaved the under side of her hair and she stopped having them

If it doesn't resolve, I think going to an ENT as some have suggested is a good idea. After that, a pediatric neurologist....

What type of allergy medicine is she on? I work for an allergist and alot of times just Claritin or zyrtec isnt going to cut it. has she been tested for allergies? Alot of different things could be causing the headaches...allergies to molds, dust, pollens, trees, animals, foods, etc. We test children every day at my office and some require allergy shots for various allergies. If she keeps having the headaches I would see if you could get referred to an allergy specialist to rule any allergies out. Good luck!

The answers below are all good ideas to pursue. Could be allergies but why did the doctor assume that -- were there any other indications besides headache that pointed to allergies? I would keep her on that medication (it can take a while for allergy meds to really work) but also be sure she is getting enough water (and juice or milk don't count as water, be sure she gets plenty of H20) and enough sleep. If she has the headaches when there are bright lights it could be migraine so ask about that. Another thing could be stress - she's 6; is she a first grader? Are there school stresses maybe she's not telling you about?
It's hard to nail down but start eliminating possible causes (like allergy) and you'll get there.

Is she watching too much T.V. maybe? Too much sugar can also cause it. I don't know. Can you tell us more about your daughter? Does she read a lot or play too many video games?

There are many reasons children get headaches.

My son got migraines at this age. It was pretty horrible. The only thing that helped was having him take some sips of very strong coffee and putting him in a dark room with absolutely no noise. I kept a cold rag on his neck and on his forehead. He also cried because of the pain, and I sat with him and helped him breathe calmly. Crying makes it hurt worse.
He's 15 now and rarely gets them. He knows when he feels one coming on and can take something to ward it off.

Try keeping a journal of your daughter's activities and ESPECIALLY what she eats and what time of day. Certain foods trigger migraines as well as not eating on a fairly regular schedule. I learned these things with my son. A journal is a huge help for you and the doctor to get an idea of any pattern.

Before you think I'm crazy for giving strong coffee, the reason Excedrin works so well for headaches is because it contains caffeine. It does something to the blood vessels and decreases a headache.
The coffee didn't get rid of my son's headache all together, but made it liveable. The only thing that really worked was him sleeping it off.
Surprisingly, very strong coffee did not have the affect of winding him up. It was exactly the opposite.
Talk to your pediatrician about it. If the allergy medicine doesn't seem to be phasing anything, definitely keep a journal. Time everything, including when the headache starts.

I really feel for your little girl. I hope she'll find something to help her manage her headaches soon.
I also got migraines as a child and I recognized them in my son. I rarely get them now. I had the first one last Saturday since I can't remember when.
It was a doozy and I was sick to my stomach with it. Half a cup of very strong coffee and a nap and it was gone by evening.

Best wishes.

Try the dentist, too!!

I get severe migraines from seafood (I know others that are triggered by chocolate, caffeine & cheese.)

Another possibility is poor alignment & posture. Take a trip to the chiropractor and see if a couple of adjustments help.

TV, computers and exposure to other media can also cause headaches.