Though seldom serious, headaches can be hard on your child. Helping your child find relief begins with determining the type of headache causing the pain. Common childhood headaches fall into the same categories as adult headaches, but kids’ symptoms sometimes vary from the adult versions.
Sarah Cheyette, M.D., is a Palo Alto Medical Foundation pediatric neurologist and the author of “Mommy, My Head Hurts: A Doctor's Guide to Your Child's Headache.” Dr. Cheyette often sees children and teens for headache pain and says “the vast majority of their headaches are completely benign. They’re also quite treatable.”
Studies show that by age 15 more than 80 percent of kids say they’ve had a headache. Head pain can happen after a minor head injury or be part of an illness, such as a virus, strep throat or sinus infection. Kids also experience migraine, tension and other adult-size headaches.