About headaches

Many children and teenagers get headaches. They’re common from 6 years of age.

Headaches usually aren’t a sign of anything serious. Children and teenagers often get headaches when they’re stressed or haven’t had enough sleep.

Headaches can be primary headaches or secondary headaches.

Primary headaches are when the head pain itself is the main problem. Common types of primary headaches include tension headaches and migraines.

Secondary headaches are when the head pain is a symptom of another condition like a viral infection, eye strain, dehydration, medicine overuse or a head injury. More rarely, it might be from a tumour, meningitis or bleeding inside the skull.

Headache symptoms

Tension headaches typically involve dull, aching pain on both sides of or around the head. Your child might have sore neck muscles too. The pain from tension headaches can be constant and last for weeks at a time.

Migraines involve throbbing pain on the side of the head or behind the eye. Your child might have nausea, vomiting, dizziness and sensitivity to light or sound too. They might also experience an ‘aura’ before the migraine starts. With an aura, your child might see flashes of light or feel tingling on one side of their body.

For other types of headaches including secondary headaches, the type, location and duration of the pain and discomfort might vary depending on the cause.

If your child is getting headaches, it’s a good idea for them to record what symptoms they have, when they get symptoms, and what might be triggering the symptoms. Your child can keep track of their symptoms by writing them in a diary or using an app.

Medical help: when to get it for children and teenagers with headaches

Your child needs immediate medical attention if they have a headache plus any of the following symptoms:

• fever
• confusion, drowsiness or seizures
• a rash that doesn’t change to a lighter colour when pressed
• stiff neck
• disruption to their sleep because the headache is so severe
• a different type of headache, along with nausea or vomiting
• blurred vision
• unsteadiness when walking
• weakness down one side of the body
• a drooping face
• a head injury including concussion.

Your child should also seek medical advice if they have a headache that keeps coming back or that disrupts their home, school or social life.

You know your child best. If your child seems unwell, seek medical attention. If your child is showing signs of a serious illness, go straight to a hospital emergency department or dial 000 for an ambulance.

Tests for headache

Headaches don’t usually need tests. Your GP will often be able to diagnose a headache after discussing symptoms with you and your child and doing a physical examination. This might include measuring your child’s blood pressure and looking at their nerves, muscles and eyes.

If your GP is concerned that your child’s headache might have a more serious cause, the GP might refer your child to a paediatrician or neurologist. Occasionally, your child might need a CT scan or an MRI scan.

Treatment for headache

If your child has a headache, encourage them to drink plenty of water. Resting or lying in a dark room can also help.

If your child’s headache is making them very uncomfortable, you can give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen according to the instructions. If your child needs to take pain medicine regularly, you should talk to your GP.

Treatment will also depend on the type and underlying cause of the headache. Your doctor will help you manage underlying causes with medicine and other advice.

Don’t give your child aspirin – it can increase the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially deadly condition.

Prevention of headache

Your child might be able to prevent headaches by:

• managing stress
• getting a good night’s sleep, including going to bed and getting up at regular times and limiting screens in the bedroom
• drinking plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated
• eating regular meals and doing regular exercise
• avoiding caffeinated drinks like cola, tea, coffee and energy drinks
• working out what other things trigger their headaches and avoiding these things.