What Causes Severe Headache In A Child?

Posted on Mon, 27 Oct 2014

Question: My four year old was playing last night and suddenly he hold his forehead and scream with pain, I put some ice and after 15 minutes he went to sleep. He expend the day fine, however he does have a cold and he is coughing a lot. We have a history of migraine in our family, will the type of pain he had can be consider as a migraine headeache ?

Answered by Dr. Irshad H Naqvi (19 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
viral RTI may cause headace

Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear
Welcome to the HCM,
Severe headache may be explained on the basis of the VIial RTI (cough & cold).( My first probable diagnosis).
It is quite common to develop fever, bodyache and headache in these situation.
Headache develops especially in acute or chronic sinusitis as a consequence of Viral RTI.
Antihistaminic decongestant along with the paracetamol (like Sinarest syrup)to be started.

Steam inhalation may prove to be beneficial in the sinus congestion.

Usually if the cold and cough is severe and associated with high grade fever or some breathing difficulty then one should consider adding relevant broad spectrum antibiotic like Amoxy+clavulanic acid with the consultation of your pediatrician.

Migrane is usually associated with vomiting.
Hope the query is answered.
Please feel free for the further clarification.
Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj