Headaches in children

The common types

Tension-type headache is a dull, band-like pressure across the head, often late in the day, usually allowing normal activity. Migraine is typically more severe, may be one-sided and throbbing, often comes with nausea, and children want to lie down in a dark, quiet room. Children's migraines are usually shorter than adults' - sometimes only an hour or two - and sleep often ends them.

Everyday triggers worth reviewing

• Not drinking enough during the school day.
• Missed meals, especially breakfast.
• Poor or irregular sleep.
• Screen time, posture and uncorrected vision problems.
• Stress, and the build-up before tests or after difficult days.
• Frequent painkiller use, which can itself cause medication-overuse headache.

Get medical advice

• Headache that wakes your child from sleep or is worst first thing in the morning.
• Headache with repeated vomiting, particularly morning vomiting.
• Headache made worse by coughing, straining or lying down.
• Any change in vision, balance, coordination, personality or school performance.
• A headache that is getting steadily more frequent or more severe.
• Sudden, severe headache reaching maximum intensity in seconds - seek emergency care.