About 60% of children and adolescents have headaches, according to research cited by authors of a . These headaches can impact a child's quality of life, make them less able to function well, and impact school attendance and performance.
The researchers found that about one-quarter of the children had one or more new eye-related findings that may have contributed to their headaches. But the findings are important because roughly"a quarter of the children had a treatable eye condition. The eyes are often a 'window to the brain' and may need to be examined if children are complaining of headaches," she said. Paul G. Mathew, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, said he was not surprised by the findings.
Eye problems can cause headaches, but can also worsen headaches in people with disorders like migraine. He warned that a child complaining of headaches should not be ignored or dismissed. "Take nausea and vomiting seriously," he said."Often, children go through appropriate, extensive gastrointestinal evaluations, but these stomach symptoms can be symptoms of migraine."