Mothers will certainly feel worried when your little one has a headache. To overcome this, Mother can give her child headache medicine, especially if the headache felt by the Little One does not subside. However, the use of this drug should still be done carefully and according to the doctor's instructions.
Just like adults, children can also experience headaches. The causes of a child's headache can vary, ranging from fever, flu, ear and throat infections, head injury, stress, to fatigue.
Headaches in children usually go away on their own, as long as they get enough rest and adequate food and fluid intake. However, in certain cases, giving a child's headache medication may be needed to treat headaches in children.
Carefully Giving Children's Headache Medicine
The type of headache that is quite often experienced by children is a tension headache. However, migraine headaches are also common in children.
To overcome the headache that is felt by your little one, you can give the following types of headache medicine for your child:
1. Painkillers
Mothers can give children special pain relievers that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Pain relievers are quite effective for dealing with tension headaches or migraines experienced by children.
However, avoid giving these drugs to children under 3 years of age. In addition, Mothers should also not give aspirin-type pain relievers to their little ones because of the risk of causing Reye's syndrome.
2. Drugs of the triptan class
Triptan drugs are quite effective in relieving migraines or severe headaches in children. This drug is generally given to children who are at least 12 years old.
Triptans can also be used together with pain relievers to treat headaches in children. However, triptan drugs must be used according to a doctor's prescription.
3. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Supplements of vitamin B2 or riboflavin can be given to children who often experience recurring headaches. Some studies show that taking vitamin B2 supplements can reduce the severity and make children experience headaches less often.
However, the use of this supplement must be according to the doctor's recommendations. In addition to supplements, riboflavin can also be obtained from certain foods, such as eggs, meat, milk, and vegetables.
4. Magnesium
Some research shows that migraines are more at risk in children or adults who are deficient in magnesium. Therefore, magnesium supplements can be given to children to teenagers who experience migraine headaches.
However, keep in mind that giving magnesium supplements to children needs to be according to doctor's recommendations because each child's magnesium needs vary depending on their age and health condition.
5. Coenzyme Q10
Another supplement that can be given as a headache medicine for children is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is an antioxidant. Giving this supplement is believed to reduce the frequency of headaches in children. Consult your doctor first to find out the right supplement dosage.
6. Anti-vomiting drugs
When you have a headache, your child may experience other symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. If your child has a headache along with these symptoms, he or she may need to get a headache medication along with an anti-vomiting medication as prescribed by a doctor. Some types of antiemetic drugs for children include: ondansentron and domperidone.
7. Antidepressant drugs
Children who experience severe stress or psychological problems, such as anxiety disorders or depression, are more susceptible to physical complaints from depression, such as migraines and frequent headaches.
If your child has frequent headaches, especially if he has symptoms of depression or stress, he may need a prescription antidepressant. In addition to treating headaches that children often feel, this drug can also treat depression they are experiencing.
8. Antiseizure drugs
Antiseizure drugs are generally used to treat headaches that often recur and don't get better with other types of headache medications. This drug can also be given if headaches in children appear due to epilepsy.
Considering the Side Effects of Child's Headache Medication
Every medicine has side effects, including headache medicine for children. If used too often (more than 2 days in 1 week), children's headache medications, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, are at risk of causing headaches to recur more frequently (rebound headache).
Giving supplements of vitamin B2, coenzyme Q10, or magnesium to children is also at risk of causing side effects in the form of indigestion, yellowish urine, and more frequent urination.
Meanwhile, the use of antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs in children is at risk of making children sleepy and having difficulty concentrating.
Child Headache Treatment at Home
In addition to a child's headache medicine, here are some steps you can take to deal with headaches experienced by your little one:
Take the kids to take a nap
When your little one has a headache, he needs a lot of rest. Therefore, Mother can take him to take a nap. So that he can rest more comfortably, Mother can make the room atmosphere calmer and cooler.
Divert his attention
If your little one refuses to take a nap, give him something to distract him from the pain. For example, by giving him toys, books, or other things he likes.
Give enough food and drink
Headaches can make a child experience a decrease in appetite, especially if the headache that appears is accompanied by complaints of nausea and vomiting. If your little one experiences it, you still need to give your little one enough food and drink so that he doesn't get weaker due to dehydration.
Overcome stress in children
Stress can make a child's headache often recur or even get worse. Therefore, try to calm your little one when he feels afraid or anxious, either by holding or hugging him.
If the mother has given medicine for the child's headache and the headache felt by the little one does not improve or even recurs frequently, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Mothers also need to be vigilant if the headache experienced by your child is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Weak hands or feet
- Tingling or numbness
- Decreased consciousness or the child looks weak
- Seizures
- Fever
- Throw up
- Stiff neck muscles
If your little one has a severe headache or is accompanied by some of the above symptoms, immediately take him to the pediatrician so that the doctor can examine the condition of the little one and give him a safe and effective pediatric headache medicine, as well as proper treatment.
