Headache in Children

Headaches are inherently subjective, so there is potential for such complaints exaggerated or even underestimated. However, if you child is complaining of headaches, of course you get confused. For headaches suffered by the child usually difficult to diagnose. This is compounded by the limited ability of children to describe headaches experienced. That is why you need to better understand the headaches experienced by the child.

What are the different types and causes of headaches in children?

Headaches in children are generally divided into two types:

1. Primary. This type of headache is the most common cause. A study emergency  room of the hospital said 82% of children who came with headaches, go home with a diagnosis of primary headache type. This type is usually composed of migraine and tension headaches.
2. Secondary. The second category is the cause that must be considered by the parent. These headaches are usually caused by an organic cause or abnormalities in the body. Such as headaches caused by infection, tumor or mass and trauma to the head. There are some danger signs that indicate that the headaches is due to secondary causes, namely :

• A brief history of headache, the headache can be the fist one the most.
• Headaches are intensified in a matter of days or weeks.
• The existence of signs of increased pressure in the head, such as morning headaches, vomiting, headache enough to disturb sleep, headache becomes severe because of coughing or valsava movement (the movement of breath through the nostrils and mount closed).
• The change of behavior, some members of the child is body so weak, there are visual disturbances, confusion, seizures or body heat.
•  A history of an underlying systemic disease.
• The age of the child is still less than 3 years.

Another cause your child complains of headaches :

1. Lack of sleep
2. Less liquid
3. Taking certain drugs
4. Certain foods or drinks (Containing caffeine, monosodium glutamate)
5. Late meal
6. Look at the computer or watching television for too long
7. long overland trip
8. Hear sounds too tight in the long term
9. Inhaling cigarette smoke

What is the difference headaches in children and adults?
In addition to the type and causes of headaches, headaches between children and adults lies in the difficulty of diagnosis headaches in children. Because doctors or health workers are usually difficult to obtain information about the headaches, such as the location of headache, headaches suffered duration, severity and intensity of pain in the head. Therefore, the determination of diagnosis through comprehensive examination ranging from tracking the cause of the children until a physical examination and investigation should be carried out.

Any physical examination and investigation in children with headaches?
Children with headaches will be examined neurological status, blood pressure, head circumference (young children), touching the head and scalp,temporomandibular joints, the state of the teeth, ears and eyes. If necessary, will be investigated as elektroenchepalogram (EEG), analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (if meningitis is suspected), routine blood test, and X-ray examination especially sine analysis. Special imaging test such as X-ray, CT scans and MRIs are usually not indicated unless suspected secondary cause. From the research found 6% of the patients who come to the ER because of headache was actually caused life threatening conditions, such as meningitis.

What first aid a child suffers from headaches?
There are some guidelines for the handling of headache, one that guidelines is owned by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) which establishes the provision of drugs known as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drug class of non steroidal (Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs) to acute pain in headache types of tension headaches and nasal triptan class og migraine. Anti-vomiting may also be added if there is a complaint of nausea or vomiting. In ASEAN countries, such as Singapore through the National University Hospital (NUH) provides guidance on the provision of anti-pain medication for 4-15 years of age, the type of paracetamol at a dose of 15 mg/kg and ibuprofen at a dose of 10 mg/kg for first aid headaches in children.

What are the next steps in the children who often suffer from headaches?
Most headaches are not caused by a secondary cause life threatening. But often chronic headaches and coming continuously. A study shows, the average child has a headaches attack the fist time at the age 7,5 years and unfortunately 50% of those who experienced this, continues to experience headaches up to 40 years, where as the cause dangerous. What which must be done? Turns drug alone is in fact not the only solution. We have been developed psychological therapy in children to reduce pain. Treatment is kind of relaxation therapy, biofeedback and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In addition to medications and therapy, headaches in children is often caused because the light is too bright, smells that are too sharp, fast and lack of sleep. Therefore, keep a daily routine and stay away from the child with both trigger factors to reduce headaches in children.

When to see a doctor?
 As the child complained of severe headaches that cause he could not move, of course the parents are concerned. what can be done is to clam the child and asked him to rest.

If the headaches continue to complain about children, even more severe or more frequent, and the mother did not manage to find the explanation, it helps the mother to consult a doctor. consider some of the following signs:

1. Headaches occur more than once mouth
2. Not easily lost either with rest or with a headaches remidy
3. Very painful, to make a child can not move

Immediately contact your doctor (emergency room) if :

1. Decreased consciousness
2. Spraying vomiting without nausea (sudden vomiting)
3. Headaches that awaken the child from sleep
4. Seizures
5. Sudden vision impairment.