Table of contents:
- Tips for caring for headaches while preventing recurrences
- 1. Make sure the child drinks lots of water
- 2. Sort and select meals for children
- 3. Be ready for the right medicine
- 4. Make sure the child gets enough sleep
- When should you take your child to the doctor when you have a headache?
Headaches are not just a regular problem for adults, but also for children. In fact, nearly 90% of children report experiencing more frequent headaches when they are stressed and anxious. So, how do you treat children's headaches and prevent them from recurring? Come on, see the following effective ways.
Tips for caring for headaches while preventing recurrences
The type of headache that most children experience is tension headaches (tension headache) and migraines. Headaches can generally be caused by a cold, fever, sinusitis, or middle ear infection. While migraines occur due to changes in chemical activity in the brain.
The keys to treating and preventing headaches in children from recurring are:
1. Make sure the child drinks lots of water
Fever often causes children to become dehydrated. Both conditions are closely related to headaches. That's why when you have a fever and headache, your little one should drink more water. You can also help meet their fluid needs by providing real fruit juice, milk, or soup.
2. Sort and select meals for children
Certain foods can trigger headaches to recur, especially those containing mecin, aka MSG. So, foods containing MSG should be avoided by children.
Choose vegetables and fruit of various colors that are processed in a healthier way, which is boiled or baked instead of fried.
Don't forget to rearrange your little one's mealtime. Do not let him eat late or skip meals. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist if you are still unsure about choosing a healthy menu for children. Adjusting a better diet can reduce the risk of obesity in children. Obese children are known to experience headaches more frequently.
3. Be ready for the right medicine
If the headache is caused by sinus or other recurring illness, make sure your child takes medication on time and according to the doctor's advice.
Make notes about the child's health development, be it the severity of symptoms, when the symptoms appeared, and what symptoms were experienced by the child. You can tell the doctor about this note check-up routine.
When a headache appears, immediately lay the child down and support his head with a soft pillow. Keep the child away from loud and too bright atmosphere. Give headache relievers such as paracetamol or other medications your doctor prescribes. Then, compress the child's head with a hot towel and continue with a warm bath if necessary.
4. Make sure the child gets enough sleep
Lack of sleep can make children trigger headaches or dizziness the next day. So you need to schedule bedtime and wake-up times.
Then to prevent the recurrence of headaches, you need to pay attention to the child's activities. Physical activity in the hot sun for a long time can trigger headaches. So, always prepare drinking water in a bag, umbrella, or hat to reduce sun exposure.
Don't let your little one study late at night or watch television until late. If your little one often wakes up at night for no apparent reason, see a doctor immediately. Maybe the child has a sleep disorder.
When should you take your child to the doctor when you have a headache?
Although generally it can be treated at home, some conditions that cause headaches should be treated by a doctor. Apart from headaches, there are other symptoms that are red lights for you to take your child to the doctor, such as:
- Vision deteriorates
- Keep vomiting
- Weak muscles and joints
- A severe headache occurs in the back of the head
- Other symptoms that interfere with a child's sleep at night
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