Headaches in children: what helps, and when should we get help?
Headaches are common in children. They often come with a cold, hunger, stress, not drinking enough or too little sleep, and a passing headache often gets better with over-the-counter pain relief (1177). Regular meals, enough sleep, movement and fresh air can help prevent them (1177). Do not give pain relief more than 2–3 times a week, because too much can cause more headache days (1177, AAP). Contact your health centre if headaches keep coming back, feel different or need medicine several times a week. Seek care at once for a severe headache with fever and a stiff neck, a sudden very bad headache, or a headache with weakness, numbness or jerking (1177).
| Question | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| How common is it? | Headaches are a big health problem among school children. Up to 20–30 percent of teenagers have tension headache at least once a week, and about 5 percent of children and young people have migraine at least once a week | 1177 för vårdpersonal |
| What are common triggers? | A cold, hunger, not drinking enough, stress and too little sleep. Eyesight problems, poor posture and too many painkillers can also play a part | 1177, NHS |
| Tension headache or migraine? | Tension headache: pressing on both sides, like a tight hat, not worse with activity. Migraine: attacks of intense pain, often one-sided, worse with activity, in children usually over within 12 hours | 1177, AAP |
| How often can I give pain relief? | At most 2–3 times a week. More often can lead to more headache days (medication overuse headache) | 1177, AAP |
| How do I find the right dose? | By your child's weight, as written on the label or package leaflet | AAP |
| Does a headache diary help? | Yes. Writing down how often, how long, how bad and which medicine makes patterns easier to spot and helps the doctor | 1177, AAP |
| When is it urgent? | Severe headache with fever and stiff neck, sudden intense headache, weakness, numbness, jerking, or a headache that wakes your child or comes with morning vomiting | 1177 |
Common types of headache
- Tension headache: usually felt on both sides of the head as a pressing, dull ache. It can feel like wearing a hat that is too tight, and it does not get worse with physical activity (1177).
- Migraine: attacks of intense headache, often on one side. In children a migraine can last several hours but usually not more than twelve, and it usually gets worse with activity (1177). In children the pain can also be on both sides, and light or noise sensitivity, nausea, vomiting and flashing lights or zig-zag lines (an aura) are common (AAP).
- With an infection: many children get a headache with a cold (1177). Pain over the forehead or cheeks with a blocked nose can come from the sinuses (AAP).
- After a knock to the head: see our concussion guide.
- From too many painkillers: taking pain relief too often can itself cause headaches. Caffeine in fizzy drinks and energy drinks can also play a part (AAP).
What helps at home
- Everyday routines: regular meals, a fair amount of movement and activities, fresh air and enough sleep can help a child avoid headaches (1177). Do not skip meals, and drink plenty of water (NHS).
- Rest: rest and relaxation is often the best treatment for a mild headache. A cool pack, a warm shower or bath, a nap in a dark room or a gentle head and neck massage may also help (AAP).
- Screens and eyes: avoid straining the eyes for a long time, for example by looking at a screen (NHS). Eyesight problems can cause headaches (NHS), and a doctor may want your child's vision checked by an optician or eye doctor (1177 för vårdpersonal).
- Caffeine: fizzy drinks and energy drinks with caffeine can trigger headaches (AAP). Read more in our energy drinks guide.
- Stress: stress can make headaches worse (NHS). Ask gently how things are at school and with friends.
Pain relief: use it, but not too often
Over-the-counter pain relief often helps with a headache now and then (1177). But:
- At most 2–3 times a week. If your child takes pain relief more often, there is a risk of more headache days (1177). The AAP says to talk to your doctor if your child needs more than three doses a week.
- Dose by weight: always read the label and give the dose for your child's weight (AAP).
- Keep track: write down which medicine, how much and how often. Teenagers can often do this themselves, younger children need help (1177).
Keep a headache diary
A headache diary makes it easier to see what is behind the headaches, and you can bring it to the doctor (1177). Write down (1177, AAP):
- the date and time, and how long it lasted
- how bad it was and what it felt like
- any medicine, and whether it helped
- what happened that day, for example a test at school, a cold, poor sleep or a skipped meal
Over time you can often see situations that seem to trigger headaches, and your child can learn to recognise and avoid them (1177).
Try this week
- Check this week's basics: breakfast before school, a water bottle in the bag, and enough sleep.
- Start a simple headache diary on paper or in your phone, and write down every dose of pain relief.
- If your child drinks fizzy drinks or energy drinks with caffeine, swap them for water and see if the headaches change.
When to get help
Contact your health centre if your child has a headache that does not go away or is not helped by over-the-counter medicine, uses headache medicine several times a week, has a headache that feels different from before, has a headache along with a change in personality or weight loss, or has a headache with a long-lasting runny nose and pain over the forehead or cheeks (1177). The AAP also advises contacting a doctor for daily headaches, headaches that keep coming back and get worse, and headaches triggered by coughing, sneezing or straining.
Seek care at once at a health centre or out-of-hours clinic, or at A&E if they are closed, if your child (1177):
- has a severe headache, fever and tiredness, wants to lie still and seems stiff in the neck
- suddenly gets an intense headache and is tired or not responding as usual
- has a headache that has been getting worse, wakes them up or comes with vomiting in the morning
- has a headache with weakness or loss of feeling, or shaking or jerking, in any part of the body
- has a headache that does not go away after a knock to the head
- has a headache and fever and is swollen and red at the corner of the eye
Call 112 if your child has a seizure, is drowsy or confused, or has a headache with a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it. The NHS lists these as emergency signs. Call 1177 for medical advice or help finding the right clinic. See also when to seek care for your child.
This guide is general information, not medical advice for your child.