What Causes Headache in Children?

Like adults, children experience the infections, trauma, and stresses that can lead
to headaches. In fact, research shows that as young people enter adolescence and
encounter the stresses of puberty and secondary school, the frequency of headache
increases.
Migraine headaches often begin in childhood or adolescence. According to recent
surveys, as many as half of all schoolchildren experience some type of headache.
Children with migraine often have nausea and excessive vomiting. Some children
have periodic vomiting, but no headache--the so-called "abdominal migraine."
Research scientists have found that these children usually develop headaches
when they are older.
Childhood headache can be a sign of depression. Parents should alert the family
pediatrician if a child develops headaches along with other symptoms such as a
change in mood or sleep habits. Sometimes psychological counseling or even
psychiatric treatment for the child and the parents is recommended
When is Headache a Warning of a More Serious Condition?
Like other types of pain, headaches can serve as warning signals of more serious
disorders. This is particularly true for headaches caused by traction or
inflammation. Traction headaches can occur if the pain-sensitive parts of the head
are pulled, stretched, or displaced, as, for example, when eye muscles are tensed
to compensate for eyestrain. Headaches caused by inflammation include those
related to meningitis as well as those resulting from diseases of the sinuses, spine,
neck, ears, and teeth. Ear and tooth infections and glaucoma can cause headaches.
In oral and dental disorders, headache is experienced as pain in the entire head,
including the face.
Curing the underlying problem treats traction and inflammatory headaches.