Management of headaches in children.

Headache is a common complaint in children. Although in most cases it does not require medical attention, a thorough evaluation is mandatory for the child with severe, recurring, or unconventional headaches. Recurrent episodes of headache over a prolonged period with normal behaviour, intellectual function, and a negative physical examination suggest migraine or psychogenic headaches. Headache in a child may be indicative of a systemic illness or an intracranial process causing increased intracranial pressure. This review discusses the three most common types of headache in children, highlighting the characteristic symptoms, investigation, and management of migraine, organic, and psychogenic headaches.