what might cause headache in a 5-year-old? Should I worry?

[imaginaryfriend]

My dd's never had just a headache (I mean without fever, runny nose, cough, sore tummy, sore throat etc.) but she has had one all day today. It's been so painful on and off that she's laid herself down clutching her head. She's been kind of 'out of it' all day, tired, lethargic and very pale with dark rings under her eyes. She's been exceptionally quiet too and usually you can't shut her up!

She slept pretty well last night and has nothing really to worry about as she's on school hols and has so far had a super few days. She's very slightly off her food but no fever, runny nose, cough, nothing I can really find as a reason.

The only other thing is that last week she had a urine infection, blood and protein in her urine when I took her to the GP on Tuesday morning. But she's had antibiotics and seemed better from that within 24 hours. There's no obvious sign of it now at any rate.

Should I worry or not? If there's no fever it shouldn't be anything horrible I think?

is she photosensitive?

does she have a stiff neck?

do you think it might be stress-induced?

Have you medicated her? Has it helped?

I think it probably wouldn't be anything horrible but if she's in such pain after analgesic I think I might call NHS direct just to go through their checklist 0845 46 47

I don't see any evidence of photosensitivity and I asked her if her neck was sore and she said no. I really don't think it's stress induced as she's been so happy this last few days and has nothing coming up to bother her in the next 10 days. I've given her Calpol and it's definitely helped for a couple of hours then worn off again.

I bloody hate NHS direct. It takes hours and they always end up saying you should go to A&E.

can you give her nurofen too ie alternate them so she always has some pain relief?

she might just need to sleep it off

check she's not dehydrated though

(know what you mean about NHS direct)

Yes I can give Neurofen. She's asleep now and I'm hoping it'll be just gone in the morning.

If it was a sign of her coming down with something I guess she'd have a fever?

I'm sure she's not dehydrated by the way, she always drinks tons and has done today too.

water?
food?
tired?

Poor love.

Water and food ok I think. A bit off both but nothing major, I've seen her much worse.

Possibly tired but that usually doesn't last for a whole day, cause headaches, plus she slept 12 hours last night.

Impending stomach bug? I always get a wanging headache before I am sick, always did as a child!

Could it be toothache - or even sinus problems? - where abouts on her head is the pain?

2 of mine have had bugs this week with headaches, although they had high temps as well - she could be going down with something.

Left hand side forehead.

I pray it's not a tummy bug she's coming down with. Would she have had a headache all day with that? And not been particularly off her food?

Is it possible to have a virus without a fever? Random pain like this, without other symptoms, sounds virusy.

If she still has the headache tomorrow and still has no other symptoms I would get her seen.

It's tricky to get seen this week though isn't it? I guess the GP will be open on Monday? She's definitely not ill enough to go to A&E.

Well, yes, but I think with a headache - kids don't get isolated headaches as a rule - I would ring NHS Direct tomorrow with her symptoms and see if they advise leaving it till Monday or taking her to A&E.

It may be that there is a headachey virus going round and if so they will probably know about it.

(Am assuming this from ringing local surgery when my kids were small - "they have this or this symptom, is there a bug like this going round?" - if yes then not to worry, if no then bring them in. NHS Direct might err on the side of caution anyway.)

This morning she says the headache is gone but is very pale with dark circles under her eyes. Still no other signs of illness. It's an odd one this.

DD1 had something a bit like this last year. There was a really horrid headachy virus going round with very few other symptoms (lots of the her friends seemed to get it too.)