6 Year Old with a Prolonged Headache

I do know that MSG causes horrible migraines, you could try eliminating everything from his diet that contains it (google MSG), he may be really sensitive to it. I did that for my entire family and its amazing how much better we all feel. I was even able to take my youngest off all her allergy meds... :}

Tiffany,
Where is the headache? Is it all over, is it in one centralized area, or is it reacting like a tension headache or migraine? If it's tension or migraine-like, (and this is going to sound totally stupid) as long as it doesn't go against Dr's orders or any medications he's taking, you might try some chocolate or a cup of coffee with a whole lot of milk and sugar in it. Sometimes headaches are caused by the blood vessels and capilaries in the brain becoming very constricted, and caffeine in chocolate or coffee will get the blood flowing and open things up and getting the blood flowing in the brain again.If nothing else is working, it's worth a shot. I've had migraines since I was little, and when they were really bad, even when I was sick, that's what my mother would give me. It worked wonders, and to this day, still does. I hope this helps, good luck with him!
S.

Hi Tiffany

Maybe it could be his eyes, have you brought him to an eye dr and got them checked. as a child i got head aches and it was from my eyes.

Get a second opinion from another doctor ... soon.

I've never heard of a virus causing a headache, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. I started getting headaches when I was five, including migraines. I never really found anything that helped when I was younger. The chiropractor helped a little, but not enough to be really effective. When I got braces and my teeth started straightening out is when I started to notice a big difference. It's probably not the cause of your son's headache, but might be something to look out for if he continues to get headaches. None of the prescription medicine ever worked for me. I can only take ibuprofen, but that isn't 100% effective. Maybe try that and see if it can help. I hope your son feels better, I know the days long headaches are awful!

I would take him to another Dr. and soon. My son complained of headaches his is 4, I took him to the local after hours clinic because I couldn't see his regular Dr. They told me that his white blood count was off and they were sending me to the emergency room because they thought he had meningitis. We went and the Dr there said that he just had a really bad sinus infection. He had dark circles under his eyes and his head hurt and he had fever. But because he wasn't listless when the Dr came into the room he said he knew that my son didn't have meningitis. After the prescribed meds he was fine and we haven't had a scare like that again.

My kids kept getting headaches and it was linked to allergies. There are a lot of things that can cause allergies that we buy on a regular basis. qutarium 15 or q15 is linked to allergies and it is found in kids shampoo bt j&j, toothpaste, lotions. You may want to try an all natural store. I cold cloth on the head seems to help with the headaches. Try motrin instead of tylenol. Hope he feels better. om me if you need any more advice.

Tffany I do not mean to frighten you but suggest you get him to a specialist. Just recently on t v a man had gotten worms several years again and a couple made it to the brain. With the multiplication he has a mass on his brain and thank God they were able to care for him.
Please have him check asap. God Bless

Hi Tiffany,

I would suggest taking your 6yr old to see a Naturapath/Homeopath. They will be able to diagnose holistically rather than a single symptom. There could well be underlying issues which are causing the headaches, which will not be looked at by a Doctor until other symptoms appear. Plus treatment given by Naturapaths etc are natural and have no side effects, and to repeat will treat the whole problem not just the headache.You can just google Naturapaths/Homeopaths in the area. Usually they charge an initial fee between $80-139, but this is a personal assessment, there after it will be alot cheaper. As for the medicines/remedies they are around $5-$10 and last for quite sometime. Sometimes you can even claim from your Insurance. Good Luck. A.

My daughter and I both have migraines, and that's what your description sounds like.
Tylenol and other OTC pain relievers aren't going to touch migraines, and neither will presecriptions that are strictly painkillers. Don't waste your money on OTC Exedrin Migraine - it's nothing but Tylenol with a bit of caffeine added to it.
Migraines are caused by blood vessels near the nerves in the skull swelling and putting pressure on the nerve - that's why they often pulse. Migraine medications bring down the swelling in the blood vessels, taking the presure off the nerves.

I would get a second opinion and ask to have him evaluated for migraine.

I ran a daycare for 24 years and had a couple of children that had headaches a lot-turned out to be allergies. also have his eyes tested.

I agree with all of the suggestions below. I would also tell you to have him drink more fluids with electrolytes in them such as Pedialyte or Gatorade. Sometimes when we are dehydrated we have electrolyte imbalances that cause MAJOR headaches. I definitely would try alternating the Motrin every 6 hours and Tylenol every 4 hours until he is feeling better. If he is not any better by tomorrow, I would definitely seek another pediatrician's opinion or go to your local ER, preferably a Children's Hospital.
Another question: Does he complain of any other symptoms such as nausea or double/blurry vision? How long has this been goin on?
Good luck and God Bless! I have already said a prayer for your son!

Get Sambucol, an anti-viral over-the-counter medicine (at convenience stores, pharmacies and natural food stores), or else get elderberry tea in the bulk section at your local natural food store. It will look like dried little dark berries. Just put into boiling water and steep for 10 minutes, and give it to him about 3x/day. It's kind of sweet, so he shouldn't mind; otherwise, you can add a little stevia. Elderberry is an anti-viral and will help to ease the headache and to make it pass sooner.

Get your son a good mushroom complex, too, and a good, multi-strain probiotic supplement. Both are excellent for his immune system.

You can also take him to an acupuncturist, and have the acupuncturist treat him for pain relief *and* to boost his immune system so that he will get better sooner.

Once he's feeling up to it, have him gargle with very warm salt water - as warm as he can comfortably take - several times a day.

I'm a little concerned about this headache. I've never heard of a virus-induced headache. I encourage you to look it up online and see if there's any chance that it's a form of meningitis - just to be sure. Doctors really just don't seem to know anything anymore, and I wouldn't leave it up to the doctor to decide that everything's ok involving my child's brain.

But assuming that he is safe and it's just like the doctor says, you don't have to wait this out and suffer through it at all. Follow my advice and your son will be feeling better within hours.

Now, go look up an acupuncturist! You will be so glad you did. It won't be a miracle cure but it sure will help a lot. On the way there, get those supplements. Your son will be feeling better by the end of today.

L.

Has he been examined for migraines? My son was diagnosed at 6 and he takes prescribed medicine that seems to help. There are also trigger foods to avoid, marinara sauce, smoked meats, etc. We have a list we received from the doctor of foods to limit when we feel the onset of a headache. He also lies in a cool, dark room and has to sleep the pain away it helps a lot. He is now 14 and it's manageable.

Have you tried ibuprofen and chiropractic care? When you give him the ibuprofen, give it to him with something with caffeine (helps it work faster). Those work well for headaches. If it doesn't, then I would take him back to the doctor (or another doctor).