Back to School and Back to Headaches

The long, lazy days of summer come to an end when it’s back to school time. Not only do kids head back to the classroom, they also often start their fall sporting activities and classes such as dance or piano are back in session. Add homework to all of that and you have some seriously scheduled kiddos. While we often think of headaches as a adult issue, kids aren’t immune from headaches.

As all moms know, our kids aren’t always able to verbalize what’s wrong. Sometimes we’ll hear the generic “I don’t feel good” or worse the “I have a stomachache” which seems to be kid-speak for every ailment. Other times, our kids attitudes and behaviors might change, but they never express what’s wrong at all. If you see your child rubbing their head or showing signs of feeling poorly, don’t dismiss the possibility of a pediatric migraine.

- Pediatric migraines can be fleeting — lasting only an hour or so — or they can last up to 72 hours.

- Children often experience headache pain in their temples or across the front of the forehead.

- As with adults, migraines can be accompanied by stomach pain, nausea and vertigo. Also look for sensitivity to light and sound.

If your child is experiencing regular headaches — once a week or more — consider bringing him to your health care professional. While it may just be an exaggerated attempt to avoid that dreaded math homework, it also may be a bona fide headache. And there’s no reason for kids to to deal with pain when there is help available.