Headache in the Pediatric Patient

Children in all stages of development have headaches or headache syndromes, but these are commonly unrecognized and therefore under-diagnosed. This is in part because classification of headaches for children is mostly based on adult headache criteria. Headaches present already in infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool though with symptoms are quite different than those seen in older children and adults, many of which are not included in the classification system. These headache syndromes can change throughout development and evolve into different types of headaches. For some children headaches are a significant cause of disability but with early, appropriate intervention the trajectory can altered to improve quality of life for these children and their families.