Headaches can be a significant cause of discomfort, no matter what age. If the patient is a child, it can also cause parents great distress. With the advent of medicines to cure various pain, there is still a disagreement on when is the right time to provide pain medication and consult a doctor.
According to a C.S Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll, if a stomach ache accompanies the headache, 21 percent of surveyed parents should seek medical care. The numbers doubled (40 percent) if fever occurred with the headache.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement cautions that “Parental anxiety is not a sufficient reason for performing a diagnostic evaluation.”
A Closer Look at Treating Headaches
The AAP recommends against routine use of pain medication in children and suggests that parents try Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen (pain relievers). If the pain is still severe, the AAP advises parents should immediately go to an urgent care for kids.
The AAP says that Acetaminophen is okay to take for children who have a fever, but you should not give them Ibuprofen. In fact, Ibuprofen is only recommended for children with muscle aches or headaches associated with teething.
Considering that headaches are common, it is difficult for parents to determine when to take their child to urgent care or give over-the-counter medication. If that is your primary concern, you should continue reading this article.
What to Do to Relieve Your Child’s Headache
Your first step should be to evaluate the situation calmly. Dr. Steven Leber, M.D., Ph.D. suggests, “Try to get a description of what the headache feels like—and, more importantly, if there are other issues going on.”
It would be best if you also noted critical information, such as how your child responded to medicine. Besides that, you should also observe if your kid feels better or worse. If you bring your child to an urgent care facility, you should also tell the doctor if your kid has a history of headaches.
You also need to talk to the doctor about your kid’s aches and pains. Moreover, it will help to explain to the doctor how your kid responds to the pain. When you visit an urgent care facility, you should take note of crucial information, such as how your child responded to medications.
Watch for Other Symptoms
Besides the recommendations above, you should also observe if your kid has difficulty moving. The doctor might want to do a physical examination and a more thorough examination of your child’s body to understand their situation better and whether they have underlying health issues.
You should also observe how much your kid can move and do so normally. The doctor might want to do a physical exam and a more thorough examination of your child to be sure that the headache they’re experiencing is normal and doesn’t come with other complications.
Conclusion
It is tough for any parent to watch their child suffer. Although we may not be paralyzed into inaction, knowing what to do significantly lessens our distress. Therefore, we can provide better care to our kids the minute we discover the appropriate actions and avoid panicking.
If your child still complains about the pain after taking the medication, you should bring them to Your Kids Urgent Care. We provide top-notch urgent care for kids in Orlando, FL. Please do not waste another minute and come to our clinic immediately!
