NHF: Tips for Helping Your Child With Headache

PARENTS

Headache at home: Be responsive and sensitive without pampering. Treat this child the same as you treat your other children.

Discourage school refusal: There will be times when a headache will cause a child to miss school, but your child shouldn't miss more than five days per semester as a result of headache. If he or she misses more than five days, further evaluation may be needed.

Communicate with educators: It is important for parents of younger children, and for adolescents themselves, to discuss headaches with educators. Your child's doctor can write a letter explaining the importance of treatment. Give the medications and instructions for use to the school nurse.

Discuss immediate treatment: Explain to each teacher that the moment a child feels the warning signs of a headache, he or she should be allowed to leave class, go to the nurse for medication, and rest until symptoms have decreased.

EDUCATORS

Legitimate biological disease: A child or adolescent's chronic headaches or migraines are real responses and not excuses.

Missing school: When a child gets a headache during school, encourage him or her to lie down in the nurse's office during a headache, or until symptoms diminish to a more manageable level. Be sure he or she returns to class afterward.

Communicate with student: Offer a sensitive reaction that does not embarrass the child in front of his or her classmates. When a child knows the school environment is supportive then headaches should not be used as a reason for missing school, or for more than a minimal amount of time.

Allow immediate treatment: If, during a class, a child explains that he or she has to take medication, encourage the student to go to the nurse's office. Taking medication as soon as the first signs of a headache appear is important.