Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTypesHome RemediesWhen to Seek HelpPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Types
Home Remedies
When to Seek Help
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Many types of headaches can occur in children, with multiple different causes ranging from anxiety to a lack of hydration or rest. If these headaches are infrequent and all serious symptoms have been ruled out, however, they can be safely treated at home.
Read more about home remedies for your child’s headache.
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Causes of Headaches in Children
The exactcause of headachesisn’t known, but some factors that contribute to the development of headaches in children include:
Less common, but more serious causes of headaches in children include:
What Is Meningitis?
Meningitis is a serious, potentially fatal, bacterial or viral infection of the membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain.
Traits of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) Episodes
Types of Child Headaches
Children’s headaches fall into two basic categories: primary and secondary.
Primary
Primary headaches are not linked to another health condition.
The most commontypes of primary headachesin children are:
Secondary
Home Remedies for Your Child’s Headache
For headaches and migraines that don’t require medical attention, there are ways tosoothe symptoms for your child at home.These include:
A Caution About Pain MedicationsWhile medications such as Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol can be helpful in the short term, they should not be given for a headache more than two to three times a week. If these medications are given more often than this for several weeks, it can make the headache worse (called a rebound headache).If your child is having headaches that require medication more often than this, see their healthcare provider for longer-term options.
A Caution About Pain Medications
While medications such as Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol can be helpful in the short term, they should not be given for a headache more than two to three times a week. If these medications are given more often than this for several weeks, it can make the headache worse (called a rebound headache).If your child is having headaches that require medication more often than this, see their healthcare provider for longer-term options.
While medications such as Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol can be helpful in the short term, they should not be given for a headache more than two to three times a week. If these medications are given more often than this for several weeks, it can make the headache worse (called a rebound headache).
If your child is having headaches that require medication more often than this, see their healthcare provider for longer-term options.
When to Seek Professional Treatment
Call 911 if you think your child has a life-threatening emergency or if your child:
Seek immediate but non-emergency care if you think your child needs to be seen urgently or your child:
Contact a healthcare provider within 24 hours if you think your child needs medical care, but not urgently, as well as for:
Call a doctor during office hours if you have other questions or concerns, or if your child has:
What Is a Headache Specialist and Do You Need One?
Ways to Prevent Headaches in Children
Some ways to help stop headaches and migraines from occurring, or lessen their frequency, severity, or duration, include:
Summary
While headaches are common in children, they are rarely worrisome. Most headachescan be treatedat home or prevented with simple measures, such as rest and sleep, a cool compress or heat, staying hydrated, and some over-the-counter medications.
If you think your child’s headache is more serious, or they are showing signs of needing medical attention, call 911 if it is an emergency or their primary healthcare provider if it is less urgent.
A Word From Verywell
While a headache can normally be managed from home, it is still a very unpleasant experience. Ensuring your child practiceshealthy lifestyle habitscan often help with their headaches.
However, some headaches are too much to take care of on your own, especially when they’re happening frequently or are causing severe pain. If your child is having severe headaches, talk to your doctor about creating a care plan.
When should I worry about my child’s headache?
Call 911 if your child:
Which home remedy will get rid of my child’s headache fast?
The remedy depends on the cause of the headache, but resting or sleeping in a dark, quiet room is often all that is needed.
Will fruit help take away a child’s headache pain?
Fruit is unlikely to relieve all headaches, but it may help some. It can hydrate and help relieve hunger, which may help relieve a headache, and some fruits, such as bananas, contain vitamins and minerals that may also help with headaches.
10 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.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Headache.Gonzalez A, Hyde E, Sangwan N, Gilbert JA, Viirre E, Knight R.Migraines are correlated with higher levels of nitrate-, nitrite-, and nitric oxide-reducing oral microbes in the American gut project cohort.mSystems. 2016;1(5):e00105-e00116.Silva-Néto R, Peres M, Valença M.Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients.Cephalalgia. 2014;34(1):14-21. doi:10.1177/0333102413495969Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.xKelman L, Rains JC.Headache and sleep: examination of sleep patterns and complaints in a large clinical sample of migraineurs.Headache. 2005;45(7):904-910. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05159.xStanford Children’s Health.Headaches in children.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.National Headache Foundation.Childrens headache disorders.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.Nationwide Children’s.Headaches in children.Additional ReadingZanchin G, Dainese F, Trucco M, Mainardi F, Mampreso E, Maggioni F.Osmophobia in migraine and tension-type headache and its clinical features in patients with migraine.Cephalalgia. 2007;27(9):1061-1068. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01421.x
10 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.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Headache.Gonzalez A, Hyde E, Sangwan N, Gilbert JA, Viirre E, Knight R.Migraines are correlated with higher levels of nitrate-, nitrite-, and nitric oxide-reducing oral microbes in the American gut project cohort.mSystems. 2016;1(5):e00105-e00116.Silva-Néto R, Peres M, Valença M.Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients.Cephalalgia. 2014;34(1):14-21. doi:10.1177/0333102413495969Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.xKelman L, Rains JC.Headache and sleep: examination of sleep patterns and complaints in a large clinical sample of migraineurs.Headache. 2005;45(7):904-910. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05159.xStanford Children’s Health.Headaches in children.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.National Headache Foundation.Childrens headache disorders.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.Nationwide Children’s.Headaches in children.Additional ReadingZanchin G, Dainese F, Trucco M, Mainardi F, Mampreso E, Maggioni F.Osmophobia in migraine and tension-type headache and its clinical features in patients with migraine.Cephalalgia. 2007;27(9):1061-1068. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01421.x
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.
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Headache.Gonzalez A, Hyde E, Sangwan N, Gilbert JA, Viirre E, Knight R.Migraines are correlated with higher levels of nitrate-, nitrite-, and nitric oxide-reducing oral microbes in the American gut project cohort.mSystems. 2016;1(5):e00105-e00116.Silva-Néto R, Peres M, Valença M.Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients.Cephalalgia. 2014;34(1):14-21. doi:10.1177/0333102413495969Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.xKelman L, Rains JC.Headache and sleep: examination of sleep patterns and complaints in a large clinical sample of migraineurs.Headache. 2005;45(7):904-910. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05159.xStanford Children’s Health.Headaches in children.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.National Headache Foundation.Childrens headache disorders.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.Nationwide Children’s.Headaches in children.
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Headache.
Gonzalez A, Hyde E, Sangwan N, Gilbert JA, Viirre E, Knight R.Migraines are correlated with higher levels of nitrate-, nitrite-, and nitric oxide-reducing oral microbes in the American gut project cohort.mSystems. 2016;1(5):e00105-e00116.
Silva-Néto R, Peres M, Valença M.Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients.Cephalalgia. 2014;34(1):14-21. doi:10.1177/0333102413495969
Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH.Water, hydration and health.Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x
Kelman L, Rains JC.Headache and sleep: examination of sleep patterns and complaints in a large clinical sample of migraineurs.Headache. 2005;45(7):904-910. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.05159.x
Stanford Children’s Health.Headaches in children.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Headaches in children.
National Headache Foundation.Childrens headache disorders.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.
Nationwide Children’s.Headaches in children.
Zanchin G, Dainese F, Trucco M, Mainardi F, Mampreso E, Maggioni F.Osmophobia in migraine and tension-type headache and its clinical features in patients with migraine.Cephalalgia. 2007;27(9):1061-1068. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2007.01421.x
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