4 year old with severe headache-anyone around to advise?

[fifitot]

DD has complained of a headache on and off all week and came home early from nursery because of it today.

Dozed on and off on sofa, refused food and drink and held her head, crying from time to time. Clearly in pain. Took to walk in centre who said glands in neck slightly raised, maybe dehydrated and/or kidney infection. However has no pain in abdomen and while urine very strong - think this is because she doesn't want food or drink.

She woke before crying with the head pain. So have given more Calpol but am a bit concerned - really don't think it can be kidneys. She has no rash and doesn't seem to have neck stiffness.

What should I do? She's sleeping now - if she wakes in pain should I go to A and E?

Hope your Little One is ok and feeling better. If it's not better in the morning I would definately go back but try not to worry too much!

xxxxx

Fifitot - in addition to a dc with meningitis, I also have one who is a proper, card-carrying migraine sufferer .... (same dc in fact but that's another story)...we were told by more than one GP that migraine was very unlikely in children until we reached a specialist who said words to the effect of stuff and nonsense, children can - and do - suffer from migraine! The fact that you suffer as well makes it more likely. My DS used to vomit with some attacks: this is apparently because migraine affects the pain sensors in the stomach area as well, and some children can have stomach migraine on its own. Ed had several attacks, some very severe, before he ever got his first visual disturbance as a warning (or recognised it, I'm not sure). After that he got used to knowing when they were coming, which in turn helped us to a) treat it and b) prevent them. He also did the on-off headache for a week pattern, particularly if the weather was thundery. Hope this helps and that she's feeling better soon.

Fifi
In the absence of fever, migraine is def a possibility, even in the very young. Meningitis is unlikely as she has been unwell for some time. Bacterial meningitis strikes and can kill very quickly so not likely. Even viral meningitis would demonstrate light sensitivity and stiff neck - has she ever had any of these?
Dehydration, which she seems to have to some degree, worsens headaches so vital she drinks more - anything she likes - if she wees around 4 hourly a reasonable amount you are keeping on top of the dehydration - aim for normal colour urine. I'm sorry but someones suggesion of taking her to A&E, forcing needles into her veins (very painful and distressing for mum and child) to rapidly rehydrate is an appalling suggestion. I worked in A&E and the only children not distressed were those who were too sick to care and genuinely needed it!
Continue with the pain relief, you can use ibuprofen and calpol together, but if her symptoms are not resolving take her back to the GP. If her condition worsens significantly or she becomes drowsy/less responsive I'd take her to A&E.

DS had bad headaches in the morning when he was 8. He had a febrile convulsion recently as well so he had an MRI scan, EEG and eyetests. It turned out to be what i suspected all along which was sinusitus (showed up on MRI scan).

He never had any other obvious symptoms ie runny nose etc just a lot of headaches. It can be very difficult to diagnose with children.

Thankyou all. She is much improved this morning and touchwood over the worst. She was very dehydrated which I think was prolonging the problem. I managed to get a fair bit of liquid into her at bedtime and she isn't complaining about pain this morning.

In fact she is reasonable chirpy and milking the attention a bit I think! I suspect it must have been a virus, especially with the vomiting but if she gets another will follow it up.

You've all been really helpful-cheers.

Glad she's feeling better!

Glad she is feeling better Fifi

My 4 daughter has recently went to ER due to extreme dehydration. She has had no further episodes of vomiting or diarrhea. She is still complaining of a headache. All labs came back normal. She is taking fluids fine and eating food alright. I'm worried as this is day 3 of the headache. Tylenol and ibruprofen don't seem to help. Should I take her back to ER? I'm not sure what to do...

I meant my 4 year old daughter

Dingers this is an old thread going back to 2010. I suggest you start a new thread where you will get more traffic/advice. In the meantime ring for some medical advice and trust your gut instinct. If you think she needs seeing then don't waste time with a child so small.