You should take your child to see a doctor right away for a headache if:
- your child has a headache once a month or more
- your child developed a headache after a head injury or other trauma
- the headache is accompanied by vomiting, fever, neck pain, or changes in vision
- the headache causes your child to wake up or occurs right upon wakening
- your child has trouble walking, standing, or speaking
- the headache worsens, occurs more frequently, or appears to be the worst headache your child has ever had
- the headache has changed and is different from previous headaches
- you notice changes in your child's personality
Non-medication treatments
- Identify what triggers your child's headaches.
- Foods, noise, strong odours, smoke, bright lights, and weather changes are just a few things that can trigger a headache. Each person is affected by different triggers. Keep a headache diary that describes the situations in which your child develops a headache. That way, you know what he or she should avoid.
- Tell your child to always tell an adult when their head hurts so the headache can be dealt with quickly at school and at home.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Ensure your child drinks enough fluids (about 4 to 8 glasses) each day. Avoid caffeinated beverage because they can cause headaches for some children.
- Offer your child a snack or juice because low blood sugar can sometimes trigger a headache.
- Make sure your child gets enough rest and has a regular sleeping schedule.
- Eat healthy, balanced meals.
- Try relaxation techniques.
- Find a dark quiet room where your child can lie down and relax. Tell your child to take slow, deep breaths.
- Place a hot or cold pack on your child's forehead may help.
Over-the-counter medications
Mild headaches generally go away on their own without requiring medication. However, there are several over-the-counter options to help your child deal with a headache.
Pain relievers*
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) can be used to help reduce pain from headaches. The medication works best if it is given soon after the headache begins.
- These medications may not be useful in dealing with more moderate-to-serious headaches or migraine attacks. Talk to your child's doctor about other options if these medications don't work
What not to do
Here are some things you should not try and why:
- Do not give your child pain medications more than 3 days a week. Overuse of pain or migraine medications to treat a headache can actually make headaches worse as your child experiences a withdrawal effect after the pain medication wears off. This condition is called medication-overuse or rebound headache. If you find that medications are not relieving your child's headache, talk to a doctor about other possible options
- People less than 18 years old should not use ASA (acetylsalicylic acid) because of the risk of developing Reye's syndrome. You should also avoid giving children under 12 years of age pain relievers that contain a narcotic such as codeine. Speak to a health care professional first.
* All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your child's headache should subside within a few hours after taking pain medication. When the headache is caused by an infection such as the cold or flu, it generally goes away once your child's fever goes down.
You should take your child to see a doctor if he or she:
- has a headache occurs almost daily
- still has a headache despite taking pain medication
- experiences any side effects from taking pain medication
