• Reference Number: HEY1265/2026
• Departments: Emergency Department, Paediatrics
• Last Updated: 28 February 2026

What is a headache?

Headaches are a symptom of pain in the head or neck area and are very common in children and adolescents. Children can have headaches the same as adults, but their symptoms may be slightly different, and they may not be able to describe them. Most headaches, in adults and children, are not serious and do not require tests or scans.

Headache causes

Headaches can be split into primary and secondary headaches.

The most common type of primary headache in children is migraine. Sometimes children with migraine will have a warning sign that comes before the headache, such as vision changes, strange taste or smells, or changes to their balance. The headache can be on one side of the head or both sides.

Tension-type headaches are also a common primary headache in children. These feel like a ‘tight band’ around the head.

Secondary headaches are due to an identifiable cause, the most common of which is viral infections such as colds, sinus or ear infections. Very rarely secondary headaches are caused by something more serious, but your doctor will ask lots of questions to determine if this might be the case.

How is a headache diagnosed?

The doctor will take a detailed history from you and your child to find out what might be causing the headaches, and to see if there are triggers that can be identified. This might involve asking about problems at home or at school. A physical examination will be performed. The doctor will also ask you which headache treatments you have tried and if they have worked.

If there is nothing concerning in the history or examination, then it is unlikely that any further tests will be required. Parents often worry about their child having a brain tumour, but this is a very rare cause of headache. Your doctor will specifically consider this when they assess your child and think about whether a brain scan or other tests are needed.

Treatment for headaches

Most headaches can be treated at home.

Non-medicine treatments: when a headache first begins, try offering your child something to eat or drink and a lie down to relax. A cool wet cloth on the forehead can sometimes relieve the pain, and if your child has tightness in their neck or shoulders, massaging or stretching these can help.

Medical treatment: often simple, non-prescription pain relief medication work best for headaches, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Make sure you follow the instructions on the packet. If your child is needing pain relief medication for a headache for more than 3 days please speak to your doctor, as overuse of pain relief medication can cause worsening of headaches in the long term.

Prevention: often headaches can be prevented by ensuring you child has a good balanced diet, plenty of exercise and good sleep.

Can there be any complications or risks?

Explain risks or complications involved in the procedure and include statistics if possible. This could be based on patient information that has already been produced by the respective Royal College, NICE or Department of Health Guidelines.

When to seek help

If your child starts to experience frequent headaches it is helpful to keep a headache diary so that when you see your doctor, they may be able to identify potential triggers. You should list activities that your child has done and foods they have eaten on each day they have a headache. You could also include how they have slept and whether they have been worried about anything in particular.

Some headaches can be serious so if you are concerned, speak to your doctor.

Your child should be assessed by their doctor if:

• The headaches are getting worse
• They are having a headache more than once a week
• The headache wakes your child from sleep
• Your child wakes with a headache or it is worse first thing in the morning
• The headaches begin to disrupt your child’s school, home or social life
• You identify that stress is causing your child’s headaches but cannot manage it without further help.

You should attend the Emergency Department or call 999 if:

• Your child is having seizures
• Your child becomes very drowsy or difficult to wake up
• Your child becomes floppy
• The headache is associated with vomiting, high fevers, neck stiffness or rashes

Useful sources of information

The Migraine Trust has a wealth of resources on headache www.migrainetrust.org

Also see: www.nhs.uk/Livewell/headaches/Pages/Headachesinchildren.aspx

And for information on brain tumours, see: https://www.headsmart.org.uk/

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats your child, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to your child. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your child’s condition, the alternatives available for your child, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about your child

We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, information about your child will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your child’s doctor, or the person caring for your child.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you need information about your child’s (or a child you care for) health and wellbeing and their care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.