8 Yr. Old Daughter Having Headaches for 2 Weeks

Talk to her primary about a Sinus Infection. My 9yo had headaches for 3+weeks we kept thinking it was eye strain. Finally had a MRI done and a CT - after all other tests ruled out things. Anyway, it came back as a MASSIVE Sinus Infection that was so Deep & Thick it couldn't be seen my the Drs. (My Dad being one of them) - so we were on High Dosage Antibiotics and it cleared up within 2weeks.

She may have seasonal allergies. The same thing happened to my daughter and the doc found her sinuses were a mess! Thank goodness for zyrtrec (generic) and nasonex nose spray!

Might sound simple and maybe it's something you've already thought about...is she well-hydrated?

Is she drinking enough? Try giving her more water during the day.

Another thing my son just had fifths disease and for about a week/week and a half before he broke out with the rash he would complain of headaches.

Maybe allergies that ave gone undiagnosed.
Strep is another thing that causes headache typically my sons only complaint.

They may only do a CT scan of her head in the ER. That is a more common protocol for headache. Please do not think an ER will do a full work-up. They typically perform the exams needed for acute issues. This is not really an acute illness and they will likely rule out something serious and ask you to follow up with your doctor. You may still decide to go to the ER to get started but just do not finish there. MRIs are expensive and not often ordered by the ER unless there is no other exam to image the area of interest adequately.

That being said, it could be sinus related. The frontal sinus is in the forehead area. Many people have issues with their sinuses during allergy season. I do not have allergies but everyone in my area is saying the pollen count is high this year. Did you try OTC meds for sinus congestion? I would try that and see if it works. Personally, I would only seek emergency care if her pain increases or she develops additional symptoms.

Good luck and hope your daughter feels better.

I was having horrible pains in my forehead and temple area. It was also the back of my neck, my jaw, my teeth ... it was nuts! Of course, it was at its worst on a Saturday. I went to prompt care, because that only costs $15 as opposed to $200! They told me I needed a CTScan. I tried really hard not to freak out, but I was scared. I went straight to the ER.

Turns out, it's like Sara C said, it's actually routine and they just want to rule things out. The doctor came to me and told me I had sinusitis. I thought, you have got to be kidding me! Sinus pressure? That's it? He gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and some nasal spray and told me to take a decongestant. He also gave me a shot of toradol and sent me on my way. A few hours later I was fine, and I haven't had any problems since. I guess sinus pressure can be intense!

My point (in a long roundabout way) is that just because an MRI is recommended, does not mean your daughter has a brain tumor and needs immediate surgery or anything critical like that. It's just often the best way for them to rule things out and to actually see if there's anything that needs to be further investigated.

I would just take her to her primary physician. He/she will know how best to proceed. Also, couldn't hurt to increase her water intake. That really can make a difference.

Do not go to the ER unless there is a drastic change! The ER is truly for emergencies only and this has been going on for 2 weeks. Headaches are common and rarely are caused by anything serious that an ER visit would fix.

The eye doctor said she should see her primary care doctor. Do you trust him? He didn't say it was an emergency. It's ongoing and not caused by her eyes. Don't read more into what he said than what he said.

Updated

Do not go to the ER unless there is a drastic change! The ER is truly for emergencies only and this has been going on for 2 weeks. Headaches are common and rarely are caused by anything serious that an ER visit would fix.

The eye doctor said she should see her primary care doctor. Do you trust him? He didn't say it was an emergency. It's ongoing and not caused by her eyes. Don't read more into what he said than what he said.

My granddaughter began having headaches after she had been taking a medicine awhile for ADHD. Does your daughter take any sort of medication regularly. That could be a cause.

Everyone in my family and among my friends have had headaches due to dehydration. Is she drinking several glasses of liquid daily? And aspartame as well as other artificial sweetners is known to cause headaches.

There are many possible common causes of headaches that are not serious. I suggest you focus on the reality that this is minor and does not have a major cause. Everyone, including children, have headaches from time to time.

Sounds like a sinus headache to me. She might have some congestion blocked up in the sinus caveties in her forehead. I can't believe the eye doc suggested an MRI like something is major wrong. She doesn't have to have a runny nose to have blocked sinuses. Check that out first.

My daughter was getting bad headaches and we couldn't figure out the cause. Then one day I connected it to the sugar-free gum she was chewing. It's really hard to find gum that doesn't have aspartame in it! We stopped the gum and the headaches stopped. She also has to be careful of drinks and other items that might have aspartame in it.

That might not be the cause, but don't rule out food. If I were you I'd take her to a chiropractor.

I used to get bad headaches from riding in a car, I had motion sickness.

Definitely get her checked out!

My 16 year old daughter has had headaches since she was 8. The only relief she's felt is when our chiropractor worked on her mouth after she got her braces tightened. She didn't have braces at 8 but that's when she stopped sucking her thumb and she had major teeth problems from her sucking her thumb for so long. I'm not sure if that's related or not but no one was able to figure out the cause. Keep us posted!

When I was a kid I always had headaches and my parents and drs could never figure it out. As an adult I'm convinced that they were caused by allergies. Something to look into.

If she's acting normal I wouldn't go to the ER. I would only go to the ER if her behavior changes drastically.

Seems like it pretty much has all been said. There are many reasons for headaches, including heat, abrupt changes in temperature, certain foods like chocolate/sugars, sodas, and foods that have nitrates, lack of sleep, tight hairstyles, allergies, sinus infections, jaw problems, neck muscle spasms...so I would stay away from those foods, keep her cool, take plenty of fluids,and have her see her pediatrician. Things to worry about would be constant headache that is worsening or that she wakes up to every morning, vision changes, instability, nausea/vomitting/dizziness, changes in behavior, seizures, weakness, especially if it is localized. Most pediatricians will advice these changes and a headache diary for a few weeks, to try to find out what triggers them, how often and severe they are, what makes them better, how ofter do you have to give tylenol/motrin, etc. Most insurances will not authorize an MRI right out, though it is the test of choice and doesn't have the exposure to radiation that a CT scan. So most people get the CT scan first, and in some cases it may take from a few days to a couple of weeks to be authorized, depending on your insurance and how diligent your doctor's office is in pushing for it. On the other hand, if there is somethig truly wrong or suspicious, then the plan would be to have her admitted and do a full workup including the MRI, but I'm sure that's not the case. Hope she feels beter soon.

Please take her to the doctor and get her thoroughly examined. It is probably nothing. And I don't want to scare you. From what you are describing it sounds like sinuses or allergies but my cousin's 7 year old son had a brain tumor go undiagnosed (again, rare) because the doctors didn't do full testing. If you find out that it's nothing, all the better. But better to know (even if it is just a sinus infection, which can be miserable) than not to know.

Headaches can also be a sign of a dental infection. Just another thing to consider. I hope she gets some relief soon for whatever is causing it.

I have suffered from headaches for years. Getting too hot or getting dehydrated is one if my major triggers. Is she drinking enough. Also after doing more research I found a link to magnesium deficiency. I take magnesium every night now and haven't had a headache in months.

My daughter was getting headaches due to her long hair. Once we cut her hair shorter, she never had a headache again.

Are you worried about a brain tumor? odds are in your favor, brain tumors aren't common. Has she thrown up? had brief moments of zoning out? changes in sleep patterns? appetite? clumsiness? Those are all common signs of a brain tumor.

If you are really worried-I'd go to the ER. Better safe than sorry.

also-did the DR dilate her eyes? eye dr.'s can see changes in pressure in the optic nerve, and can get a good idea if something is growing in there.

My sister in law had chronic headaches for months and went through tons of testing. In the end, it ended up being lockjaw. Her jaw was adjusted by a chiropractor and she hasn't had them since. Good luck!