Chiropractor Lincoln NE | Headache Symptoms And Treatments For Children And Teens

Headache Symptoms And Treatments For Children And Teens Just as adults develop headaches, so can children. However, when you are a parent with a headache you often wonder what to do. After all, children are smaller and we wonder what treatments are safe for children. Over-the-Counter Medication In most cases, children can take over-the-counter medications and get adequate headache relief. With children, it is very important to read the directions on the medication. Follow the dosing guide based on age and weight of the child. Do not give more than the recommended dose. WARNING: If your child experiences a headache while diagnosed with chicken pox, consult your doctor before giving any over-the-counter medication. Aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome when given to children with chicken pox. Therefore, ask you doctor before giving any over-the-counter medication to your child. Watch Your Child's Headache Children can experience headaches for a variety of reasons. Most are the same as adults like tension and stress. However, headaches can be a sign of infection in children. If fever, chills, or a known illness accompanies the headache, then infection may be the culprit. If you haven't already taken your child to the doctor, now is the time. Head Trauma Like adults, children can experience headaches after a head trauma. When a child hits their head, the brain can "rattle" inside the skull. This can cause some minor brain swelling which triggers a headache. If your child experiences a headache after hitting their head, seek medical attention. Recurring Headaches Children will develop occasional headaches. This is no big deal and can be treated with over-the-counter medications. However, if your child experiences headaches more than once a month, further observation may be required. Children who experience headaches on a daily basis may be diagnosed with Chronic Daily Headaches. This is not common in children but it does occur. In many cases, the cause results from taking pain medication too frequently. This is true even when the child takes over-the-counter medications too often. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. Headache Treatments In many cases, treatments for headaches in children are the same as for adults. Over-the-counter medication is the most often prescribed treatment for children with infrequent headaches. However, as children age into pre-teens and teenagers and the treatment options open up. As teens mature, the bones harden and they become more active in sports. Stress from school and peer pressure often times leads to tension headaches. Massage therapy has proven effective in relieving and preventing chronic tension headaches and teens could certainly benefit. Teens are also prone to bad posture from spending hours leaning over a computer. This could lead to neck pain, which cause headaches. Depending on the age of you teen, a chiropractic adjustment may be beneficial. Conclusion As you can see, infants, children and teens suffer from headaches just as adults do. Like adults, their treatments are just about the same. However, when an infant shows signs of a headache parents need to watch for an infection. Parents also need to beware of giving children any pain medication if their child has chicken pox. Teens get added headache remedies because their bodies have matured more, but parents should still need to check with the chiropractor first.