Where to check for headaches for children?

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Le Thu Phuong - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

The causes of headaches in children are varied and difficult to identify. Therefore, to assist the doctor in diagnosing the cause of headaches in children, parents need to keep a diary to record the time, symptoms, and triggers before the pain.

Headaches in children are the result of common ailments such as colds, toothaches, sinusitis, eyes, ears or throat. In addition, children can also experience tension headaches, fatigue, head bumps, even brain tumors, meningitis. The following are the types of headaches and the symptoms that distinguish headaches in children:
Tension headaches: Headaches are usually dull in nature on one or both sides of the head, sometimes like a knot around the head. . Headaches caused by stress, anxiety, or depression. It may flare up at school or at home when stressed and disappear when children play or relax. Migraines: Migraines tend to be hereditary and usually first appear in children 5 to 8 years old. The pain is usually unilateral, sharp, and worsens with exertion. Additional symptoms may include mood swings, pale skin, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, poor appetite, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or fever. Some children can see halos before pain hits, or are sensitive to bright light or noise. Meningitis: A headache occurs when inflammation causes increased intracranial pressure, which reduces the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Meningitis can cause high fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, confusion, drowsiness, sensitivity to light, rash, and neck stiffness (uncommon in children, even in infants, there will be symptoms of meningitis). soft neck condition). Bowing the head increases the level of pain. If pain occurs of a similar nature, call 911 immediately. Brain Tumors: Headaches caused by brain tumors are rare in children. However, if your child has a headache that gets worse, wakes him up from sleep, or appears in the morning, go to the hospital.

If your child has occasional headaches of a mild nature and does not progress, there is no serious problem. However, if a child has a lot of headaches in the morning, during sleep, with a worsening nature and high frequency, it could be a sign of a serious headache.
When you visit the doctor, you should list the above symptoms or list other abnormalities if any such as vision changes, weakness or convulsions, pain that prevents the child from performing any activities any.

Children with headaches should be examined at reputable medical facilities, where there are highly qualified doctors with extensive experience in diagnosing headaches in children. During your visit, you will be asked questions about your child's symptoms. Children may have a general health check, blood pressure measurement, blood tests to assess general health. In the absence of potential risk, MRI and CT will be indicated.

To reduce and prevent headaches for young children, parents need to do the following:
Encourage children to get enough sleep to reduce stress. Drink plenty of water and non-caffeinated beverages to avoid mild dehydration. Avoid headache triggers such as nitrite-preserved foods such as hot dogs and cold cuts, bright or flashing lights, noise, TV, heavy exercise, and too much sun. Use a diary to record information: Symptoms, date and time, events that preceded the pain to determine the cause of the child's headache. Find out what's causing the stress and try to calm the child's mind (if any). Build healthy eating and sleeping habits for children. Try relaxation techniques for your child like deep breathing exercises, listen to soothing CDs, read a book, etc. Try massaging the back of the neck or placing an ice pack on the sore area to relieve pain. See your doctor if the above measures do not work. Headache is not simply a disease of a specific organ and is not easy to pinpoint. Therefore, please bring your children to Vinmec medical system where there are full specialties and facilities, modern medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of infection. disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to customers and be highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: Including leading experts, qualified highly qualified (professor, associate professor, doctorate, master), experienced, worked in major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, have mind - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Reference source: babycenter.com