Managing headaches in children

Children who suffer from migraines and other types of headaches may benefit from keeping a headache diary, so that they learn to identify and avoid headache triggers such as caffeinated foods and beverages, aged cheeses, pizza, luncheon meats, sausage, and hot dogs. They will want to follow a regular schedule, making sure to eat all meals (especially breakfast) and get eight hours of sleep nightly. It's important to limit a child's use of over-the-counter medications to no more than two doses per week, since overuse can actually worsen headaches.

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At the first sign of a headache, a child should take the maximum allowable dosage of recommended medications. These will not include aspirin, which can be dangerous to children. Then it can be helpful to:

• Seek rest in a quiet, comfortable location
• Use relaxation strategies and other methods to reduce stress
• Apply a cold compress