Children can suffer from the same types of headaches as adults do although their symptoms may vary. Some kinds of headaches include: tension headaches, migraines, chronic daily headaches, cluster headache and sinuses headaches. It is actually common for headaches to start in childhood or adolescence, for instance, 20% of adults who suffer headaches report that their headaches started before age 10 while 50% report they started before age 20. The incidence of headaches in children and adolescents is very common. One study reported that 56% of boys and 74% of girls between 12 and 17 indicated having experienced a form of headache within the past month.

The causes of headaches in children include either one factor or a combination of factors. Some of the most common factors include: genetic predisposition, especially in the case of migraine; head trauma, produced by accidental falls; illness and infection, for example in the presence of ear or sinus infection as well as colds and flu; environmental factors, which include weather changes; emotional factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression; foods and beverages, caffeine or food additives; change in sleep or routine pattern; loud noises. Also, excess physical activity or sun may be a trigger specifically of migraine.

Although most cases of headaches in children are considered to be benign, when they are accompanied with other symptoms such as speech problems, muscle weakness, and loss of vision, a more serious underlying cause can be suspected. They include: hydrocephalus, meningitis, encephalitis, abscess, hemorrhage, tumor, blood clots, and head trauma. In these cases, the headache evaluation may include CT scan or MRI in order to look for possible structural disorders of the central nervous system.

Some measures can help prevent headaches in children. Some of them are: drinking plenty of water throughout the day avoiding caffeine; getting enough and regular sleep; eating balanced meals at the proper times; and reducing stress and excess of activities.

Resource:  Wikipedia a free encyclopedia

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