Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesRisk FactorsSymptomsWhen to See a ProviderDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
When to See a Provider
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Headachesandstomach achescommonly occur together in children. Fortunately, whether due to anxiety, illness, or simply not enough sleep, symptoms of these conditions are usually easy to treat.
This article will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatments for a headache and stomach ache in a child.
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Causes of a Headache and Stomach Ache in a Child
From daily stress to an undiagnosed condition, there are many possible reasons for your child’s headache and stomach ache.
Stress is one of the main causes of headaches and stomach aches in children.Stress can come from anywhere, whether it be at home or school. It’s important to teach your child how to cope with stress to help avoid stress-induced headaches or stomach aches.
Headache Causes
Headaches can be classified as primary headaches (migraines, tension headaches, or cluster headaches) or non-primary headaches, such as listed below.
How Common Are Migraines in Children?Migraine, also called an acute recurrent headache, occurs in about 10% of children aged 5 to 15 years and in up to 28% of teens.In early childhood and before puberty, migraine is more commonly seen in boys than girls.
How Common Are Migraines in Children?
Migraine, also called an acute recurrent headache, occurs in about 10% of children aged 5 to 15 years and in up to 28% of teens.In early childhood and before puberty, migraine is more commonly seen in boys than girls.
What Causes Headaches and Nosebleeds in Children?
Stomach Ache Causes
Possible causes of stomach ache in children include:
Stomach pain without other symptoms that goes away completely in less than three hours is usually not serious.
Abdominal Migraine
Headache is a symptom commonly associated with abdominal migraine.
What Is an Abdominal Migraine?
Risk Factors for Headaches and Stomach Aches
There are many things that can increase a child’s chance of developing headache, stomach ache, or abdominal migraine. Some risk factors like stress overlap and could lead to both headache and stomach ache together.
Headache Risk Factors
Risk factors of headaches in children include:
Research has also shown that young girls are more likely to experience headaches once they reach puberty because of the effects that the changes in hormones have on the body during menstruation.More research is needed to determine why the changes in hormones cause an increased risk for headaches following the onset of puberty.
Stomach Ache Risk Factors
Risk factors associated with stomach aches in children include:
Some research suggests that eating a diet that is high in junk food may play a role in the onset of stomach aches in children.
Although the risk factors for headaches and stomach aches vary, one of the most common risk factors for both ailments is stress.
Abdominal Migraine Risk Factors
Children are most at risk for abdominal migraine. The first episode may occur between the ages of 3 and 10 years. Children can outgrow the condition or may see their condition turn into migraine headaches as they age.
Having someone else in the family with migraine headaches or a personal history of migraine headaches can increase a child’s chance of developing abdominal migraine.
Common Symptoms of Headaches and Stomach Aches
Symptoms of headaches and stomach aches in children vary depending on the cause and type.
Primary Headache Symptoms
Headaches can happen just once or be recurrent. They can also be localized to one or more areas of the head and face. Specific symptoms will be different depending on the type of primary headache your child has.
Children will experience these symptoms if they have a migraine:
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Your child may also become quiet or pale. Some children have anaura—a warning sign that a migraine is about to start—before the migraine such as a sense of flashing lights, a change in vision, or funny smells.
For tension headaches, your children will have these symptoms:
Children with tension headaches typically do not experience nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity.
If your child has a cluster headache, symptoms may include:
Cluster headaches are less common than migraine or tension headaches.
Children may not be able to tell you they have symptoms of a headache. Other signs that may indicate your child has a headache include crying, rocking back and forth, withdrawing from activities, and wanting to sleep more.
Stomach Ache Symptoms
Children with stomach aches will often complain that their stomach hurts. The location of the stomach pain and the cause of the pain determine what other symptoms your child will have.
The signs your child may be in pain but cannot find the right words to tell you include:
Abdominal Migraine Symptoms
Moderate to severe stomach pain is the hallmark symptom of abdominal migraine. The pain can last anywhere from one to 72 hours.
Other symptoms that may accompany the stomach pain episode include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and pale appearance.A child may also have a headache together with stomach pain.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Although most headaches and stomach aches in children aren’t serious, some can be a sign of an underlying condition. If you notice your child’s pain is getting worse, they are waking from sleep because of the pain, their personality is changing, or they have a fever or stiff neck, you should make an appointment with your pediatrician immediately.
For headaches, you should call your healthcare provider immediately if your child is experiencing a sudden headache that is more painful than anything they’ve ever experienced, a fever, or cognitive issues such as slurred speech, confusion, or behavior changes.
Diagnosing Headache and Stomach Ache in a Child
Frequent headaches and stomach aches in children could be a sign of an underlying condition. If your child has repeated bouts of one or both ailments, keep a diary that records their symptoms, possible triggers, and relief methods that have worked. You can take this diary to your healthcare provider to help them determine if more tests are needed to diagnose the cause of your child’s headache or stomach ache.
Your healthcare provider will take a history and perform a physical exam with particular attention paid to the neurological and abdominal exam. Often times, no further diagnostic testing may be necessary.
However, sometimes swab cultures (of the nose or throat), blood work, or imaging (such anEEG,CT scan, orMRI) may be needed. Apolysomnogrammay also be done if your healthcare provider suspects your child has a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or another sleep-related problem.
Treating Headache and Stomach Ache in a Child
Other home treatments for abdominal pain often depend on other symptoms that are present with the pain such as diarrhea and nausea. Try the following if your child has mild abdominal pain without other symptoms:
How to Treat Acid Reflux in Infants
Treatment for Abdominal Migraines
Not much is known about how to treat abdominal migraines. Treatment is often similar to migraine treatment and may include:
How to Prevent a Headache and Stomach Ache in a Child
Preventing headaches and stomach aches in children relies heavily on lifestyle changes, which include:
Abdominal Migraine Prevention
Avoiding triggers is one of the main things you can do to prevent abdominal migraine. Identifying those triggers can require teamwork between parents, children, and healthcare providers.
There is also some evidence that medications may help prevent abdominal migraine. These include pizotifen, flunarazine,cyproheptadine, andpropranolol.
Summary
Since stress, anxiety, and depression are considered to be common causes, it’s crucial to ensure that your child manages stress and gets any help they need for their mental health. Seek out the proper medical treatment or advice from your healthcare provider, and allow your child to have some free time to de-stress and relax.
Your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause of your child’s headache or stomach ache and recommend the appropriate treatment. Avoiding triggers and establishing a good diet and sleep routine for your child can help minimize their chances of getting headaches or stomach aches.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gulewitsch MD, Weimer K, Enck P, Schwille-Kiuntke J, Hautzinger M, Schlarb AA.Stress reactivity in childhood functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome.Eur J Pain. 2017;21(1):166-177. doi:10.1002/ejp.914American Psychological Association.How to help children and teens manage their stress.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.American Academy of Pediatricians Healthy Children.Migraine headaches in children & teens: Parent FAQs.How CH, Chan WS.Headaches in children.Singapore Med J.2014;55(3):128-130. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014029Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine.Mani J, Madani S.Pediatric abdominal migraine: Current perspectives on a lesser known entity.Pediatric Health Med Ther.2018 Apr 24;9:47-58. doi:10.2147/PHMT.S127210Alashqar A, Shuaibi S, Ahmed SF, et al.Impact of puberty in girls on prevalence of primary headache disorder among female schoolchildren in Kuwait.Front Neurol.2020 Jul 17;11:594. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00594Boston Children’s Hospital.Abdominal pain in children.Chouliaras G, Kondyli C, Bouzios I, Spyropoulos N, Chrousos GP, Roma-Giannikou E.Dietary habits and abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders: A school-based, cross-sectional analysis in Greek children and adolescents.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2019;25(1):113-122. doi:10.5056/jnm17113Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.Children’s Health.Stomach pain in kids.My Health Alberta.Signs of pain in a child: Care instructions.Azmy DJ, Qualia CM.Review of abdominal migraine in children.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2020;16(12):632-639.My Health Alberta.Migraine headaches in children: Care instructions.KidsHealth.Stomach aches (for parents).Bougea A, Spantideas N, Chrousos GP.Stress management for headaches in children and adolescents: A review and practical recommendations for health promotion programs and well-being.J Child Health Care.2018;22(1):19-33. doi:10.1177/1367493517738123Additional ReadingKelly M, Strelzik J, Langdon R, DiSabella M.Pediatric headache: overview.Curr Opin Pediatr.2018;30(6):748-754. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000688
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gulewitsch MD, Weimer K, Enck P, Schwille-Kiuntke J, Hautzinger M, Schlarb AA.Stress reactivity in childhood functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome.Eur J Pain. 2017;21(1):166-177. doi:10.1002/ejp.914American Psychological Association.How to help children and teens manage their stress.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.American Academy of Pediatricians Healthy Children.Migraine headaches in children & teens: Parent FAQs.How CH, Chan WS.Headaches in children.Singapore Med J.2014;55(3):128-130. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014029Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine.Mani J, Madani S.Pediatric abdominal migraine: Current perspectives on a lesser known entity.Pediatric Health Med Ther.2018 Apr 24;9:47-58. doi:10.2147/PHMT.S127210Alashqar A, Shuaibi S, Ahmed SF, et al.Impact of puberty in girls on prevalence of primary headache disorder among female schoolchildren in Kuwait.Front Neurol.2020 Jul 17;11:594. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00594Boston Children’s Hospital.Abdominal pain in children.Chouliaras G, Kondyli C, Bouzios I, Spyropoulos N, Chrousos GP, Roma-Giannikou E.Dietary habits and abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders: A school-based, cross-sectional analysis in Greek children and adolescents.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2019;25(1):113-122. doi:10.5056/jnm17113Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.Children’s Health.Stomach pain in kids.My Health Alberta.Signs of pain in a child: Care instructions.Azmy DJ, Qualia CM.Review of abdominal migraine in children.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2020;16(12):632-639.My Health Alberta.Migraine headaches in children: Care instructions.KidsHealth.Stomach aches (for parents).Bougea A, Spantideas N, Chrousos GP.Stress management for headaches in children and adolescents: A review and practical recommendations for health promotion programs and well-being.J Child Health Care.2018;22(1):19-33. doi:10.1177/1367493517738123Additional ReadingKelly M, Strelzik J, Langdon R, DiSabella M.Pediatric headache: overview.Curr Opin Pediatr.2018;30(6):748-754. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000688
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gulewitsch MD, Weimer K, Enck P, Schwille-Kiuntke J, Hautzinger M, Schlarb AA.Stress reactivity in childhood functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome.Eur J Pain. 2017;21(1):166-177. doi:10.1002/ejp.914American Psychological Association.How to help children and teens manage their stress.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.American Academy of Pediatricians Healthy Children.Migraine headaches in children & teens: Parent FAQs.How CH, Chan WS.Headaches in children.Singapore Med J.2014;55(3):128-130. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014029Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine.Mani J, Madani S.Pediatric abdominal migraine: Current perspectives on a lesser known entity.Pediatric Health Med Ther.2018 Apr 24;9:47-58. doi:10.2147/PHMT.S127210Alashqar A, Shuaibi S, Ahmed SF, et al.Impact of puberty in girls on prevalence of primary headache disorder among female schoolchildren in Kuwait.Front Neurol.2020 Jul 17;11:594. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00594Boston Children’s Hospital.Abdominal pain in children.Chouliaras G, Kondyli C, Bouzios I, Spyropoulos N, Chrousos GP, Roma-Giannikou E.Dietary habits and abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders: A school-based, cross-sectional analysis in Greek children and adolescents.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2019;25(1):113-122. doi:10.5056/jnm17113Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.Children’s Health.Stomach pain in kids.My Health Alberta.Signs of pain in a child: Care instructions.Azmy DJ, Qualia CM.Review of abdominal migraine in children.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2020;16(12):632-639.My Health Alberta.Migraine headaches in children: Care instructions.KidsHealth.Stomach aches (for parents).Bougea A, Spantideas N, Chrousos GP.Stress management for headaches in children and adolescents: A review and practical recommendations for health promotion programs and well-being.J Child Health Care.2018;22(1):19-33. doi:10.1177/1367493517738123
Gulewitsch MD, Weimer K, Enck P, Schwille-Kiuntke J, Hautzinger M, Schlarb AA.Stress reactivity in childhood functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome.Eur J Pain. 2017;21(1):166-177. doi:10.1002/ejp.914
American Psychological Association.How to help children and teens manage their stress.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.
American Academy of Pediatricians Healthy Children.Migraine headaches in children & teens: Parent FAQs.
How CH, Chan WS.Headaches in children.Singapore Med J.2014;55(3):128-130. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014029
Michigan Medicine.Abdominal pain, age 11 and younger.
Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine.
Mani J, Madani S.Pediatric abdominal migraine: Current perspectives on a lesser known entity.Pediatric Health Med Ther.2018 Apr 24;9:47-58. doi:10.2147/PHMT.S127210
Alashqar A, Shuaibi S, Ahmed SF, et al.Impact of puberty in girls on prevalence of primary headache disorder among female schoolchildren in Kuwait.Front Neurol.2020 Jul 17;11:594. doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00594
Boston Children’s Hospital.Abdominal pain in children.
Chouliaras G, Kondyli C, Bouzios I, Spyropoulos N, Chrousos GP, Roma-Giannikou E.Dietary habits and abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders: A school-based, cross-sectional analysis in Greek children and adolescents.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2019;25(1):113-122. doi:10.5056/jnm17113
Yale Medicine.Abdominal migraine: Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment.
Children’s Health.Stomach pain in kids.
My Health Alberta.Signs of pain in a child: Care instructions.
Azmy DJ, Qualia CM.Review of abdominal migraine in children.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2020;16(12):632-639.
My Health Alberta.Migraine headaches in children: Care instructions.
KidsHealth.Stomach aches (for parents).
Bougea A, Spantideas N, Chrousos GP.Stress management for headaches in children and adolescents: A review and practical recommendations for health promotion programs and well-being.J Child Health Care.2018;22(1):19-33. doi:10.1177/1367493517738123
Kelly M, Strelzik J, Langdon R, DiSabella M.Pediatric headache: overview.Curr Opin Pediatr.2018;30(6):748-754. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000688
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