Headache in a child; the child has a headache

Author, editor and medical expert – Petrashevich Anna Aleksandrovna.

Number of views: 16 260

Last updated date: 08/26/2021

Average reading time: 7 minutes

The common cold is a common disease caused by both bacteria and viruses. Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are one of the most common reasons for visiting a doctor worldwide1.

Symptoms of ARVI may differ depending on the pathogen that caused the disease1. However, in most cases, the manifestations of a cold are typical1:

• runny nose;
• pain and sore throat;
• cough;
• hoarseness of voice1.

In many cases, acute respiratory viral infections are accompanied by signs of intoxication: weakness, increased fatigue, headache, fever, sweating.
The general symptoms of influenza are especially pronounced1. Most often, the prognosis for influenza is favorable and the disease proceeds benignly for 2-5 days, however, according to WHO, complications can develop in 10-30% of cases5.

The entry of infection into the body leads to the development of local and systemic inflammation . Without proper treatment, the inflammatory reaction progresses. Symptoms of intoxication increase, body temperature rises sharply (above 38°C)5.

If you do not see a doctor in time, a common cold or flu can lead to serious complications - sore throat, otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis and even pneumonia2,4.

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Causes of headaches due to viral diseases, colds and flu

Headaches due to influenza and other viral diseases can occur for several reasons:

• intoxication, that is, poisoning of the body with toxins - waste products of viruses and bacteria;
• increased production of cerebrospinal fluid, which because of this puts pressure on the membranes of the brain;
• complications of colds: sinusitis - inflammation of the paranasal sinuses - or otitis - inflammation of the ear.

Headache as a symptom of a cold

Headaches due to colds are usually localized in the area of ​​the eyeballs and forehead. It can be either unilateral or bilateral. The pain is moderate, but if complications develop, it can intensify, causing significant physical discomfort. If, during cephalalgia, mucous discharge from the nose becomes more abundant, this may indicate the spread of a viral infection to the nasopharynx. Headache, cough, runny nose, which do not improve with antiviral treatment, often indicate the occurrence of sinusitis. A dry or wet cough, sore throat and fever may also occur. These additional signs indicate a complex course of the cold and complications of respiratory viral diseases with laryngitis, sore throat or bronchitis - depending on the intensity of additional manifestations of the disease. A throbbing headache may indicate the development of a dangerous complication - meningitis, especially if the attacks are accompanied by vomiting. A headache with a cold without fever may indicate a weakening of the body’s defenses or a high risk of latent infectious diseases.

What is ARVI? How is it different from the flu?

The term “acute respiratory disease” (ARI) or “acute respiratory viral infection” (ARVI) covers a large number of diseases that are largely similar to each other. Their main similarity lies in the route of transmission (they enter the body along with inhaled air through the mouth and nasopharynx) and in the set of symptoms:

• The patient has a fever, sore throat, cough, chills, muscle pain and headache for several days.
• The most common symptom of respiratory disease is a runny nose; it is caused by a number of related viruses known as rhinoviruses.

Upon recovery, all these symptoms disappear and leave no traces behind.
Basically, pathogens of acute respiratory infections are transmitted from person to person through coughing or sneezing of a patient. Anyone in close (approximately 1 meter) contact with others with cold symptoms is at risk of exposure to potentially infectious inhaled droplets. Viruses can enter the body (eyes, nose or mouth) through hands when touching an infected surface.

By maintaining personal hygiene, you can prevent the spread of pathogens that cause respiratory infections.

Headache when coughing

A short-term headache when coughing occurs due to increased intracranial pressure during coughing. A typical attack does not last long – 20–30 seconds. It disappears when the cough ends. Similar painful attacks occur with cervical neuralgia and osteochondrosis. During coughing, turning the neck and tilting the head, the nerve endings are pinched, which leads to unpleasant sensations. Pain with cervical osteochondrosis always intensifies during coughing, since the act of coughing is accompanied by slight compression of the nerve structures located next to the cartilaginous tissues of the spine. In this case, the source of pain is often localized in the back of the head, accompanied by dizziness, a feeling of fullness and tinnitus. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine occurs with impaired blood circulation in the brain and can cause dangerous complications. Therefore, do not delay visiting a specialist, especially if pain attacks occur regularly.

Why do you get a headache when you have the flu?

Influenza viruses attack the body quickly. The state of health usually worsens within a day or several hours. First, causeless fatigue, muscle weakness, and aching pain in the joints appear. Then the symptoms increase like an avalanche:

• stuffy nose, throat;
• dry cough intensifies;
• the temperature rises sharply.

The infection significantly increases the load on the body, causing fever, intoxication and severe dehydration. Headache is their characteristic symptom. It develops in different ways. Sometimes it resembles a migraine: it pulsates on one side, accompanied by nausea, tinnitus and photophobia. In other cases, it squeezes the temples or the back of the head, getting worse with sudden movements.

With influenza, the pathology involves the vascular and central nervous systems. The body responds to the invasion of pathogens with hyperthermia. At high temperatures, the necessary antibodies are produced faster. But at the same time, severe physical discomfort occurs, the vessels, including intracranial ones, expand and experience great stress.

Sometimes the discomfort is aggravated by secondary bacterial infections: otitis media or sinusitis. In these situations, the pain is accompanied by a feeling of stupor or heaviness from the source of inflammation.

Another mechanism for the appearance of pain in the head is irritation of the sympathetic nerves during swelling of soft tissues, active production of mucous secretion and filling of the paranasal sinuses. In such cases, the malaise is accompanied by muscle stiffness in the cervical region, unpleasant tension and distension in the nasopharynx, which increases with swallowing.

How to get rid of headaches

In order for headaches, runny nose, cough, and symptoms of respiratory viral diseases to subside as soon as possible, you need to take care of yourself by following a gentle regimen throughout the entire treatment period. Do not prescribe medications for yourself without first consulting a doctor - only a doctor knows how to relieve headaches during a cold and what medications should be prescribed in a particular case.

Non-drug treatment

• Minimize physical activity, ideally staying in bed and getting plenty of sleep.
• Refrain from books, TV, computer, smartphone - and in general from mental stress of any kind.
• Make sure the room has enough fresh air and is not too dry, hot or cold.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water and other non-alcoholic drinks - berry fruit drinks, herbal teas, rosehip decoction - help remove toxins from the body, thereby eliminating one of the main causes of the development of symptoms of headache, cough and runny nose.

Drug treatment

Antipyretic drugs prescribed for the flu, as a rule, can relieve headaches, runny nose and weakness, but they should only be used when the body temperature is really high (from 38 ° C for children and from 38.5 ° C for adults). You should also use analgesics with caution: swallowing one painkiller tablet after another is unacceptable. In many cases, when treating headaches due to colds, you can give preference to herbal remedies. Dr. MOM® Phyto ointment, intended for both adults and children over 3 years of age, can bring noticeable relief to the patient. This is a local remedy used for headaches, colds, and viral infections. It contains four essential oils and helps relieve headaches from colds without fever or with signs of fever. When applied, the drug has a local irritating, distracting, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect. To get rid of headaches due to colds, Doctor MOM® Phyto ointment should be applied to the temples. When you are also worried about a runny nose, the ointment will also help ease your breathing if you apply it to the wings of your nose.

When relief comes

Sometimes this symptom appears suddenly, more often it increases along with signs of fever. With a mild course of the disease, a severe headache usually continues in the first 1–2 days. After this time, it gradually weakens, the temperature drops slightly and catarrhal symptoms develop: a wet cough and runny nose. Slight dizziness, dazedness and a feeling of heaviness may continue for several days.

In people who are seriously ill with the disease, the pain is protracted, haunts them around the clock, does not respond well to painkillers, and leaves them in their sleep for a short time. From the first hours until complete recovery, patients feel completely overwhelmed, cannot leave their bed for a long time, are unable to work or eat normally. In such cases, the headache may continue to hurt for up to 2-3 weeks.

When urgent medical attention is required

A severe headache with a cold can be a symptom not only of ARVI or uncomplicated influenza, but also of more dangerous diseases, such as meningitis. If the discomfort does not go away for a long time, increases with tilting the head and sudden movements, or is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, you should immediately consult a doctor.

There are other types of pain that may indicate the development of serious diseases. You should not delay visiting a specialist, especially in the following cases:

• a painful attack due to a cold or viral disease becomes intense and unbearable;
• painful sensations are combined with a pre-fainting or fainting state, muscle weakness;
• body temperature rises above 38 ° C, muscle spasms occur, which are localized mainly in the neck, photophobia develops - these symptoms may indicate the development of meningitis.

Reasons why your head and throat hurt

Painful sensations are a consequence of inflammatory processes or mechanical damage. They can also occur in a healthy person if dust particles, smoke, chemicals or other substances get on the mucous membrane. However, more often pain in the throat and head is caused by various diseases that require an individual approach to treatment.

Angina

Sore throat is an infectious disease that occurs with inflammation of the components of the lymphatic ring of the pharynx, mainly the tonsils. Its causative agents are pathogenic microorganisms, most often streptococci and staphylococci. Bacterial and fungal forms are less commonly diagnosed. The process occurs in an acute form, with fever, general weakness and other symptoms. In the initial stages, sore throat can be easily mistaken for a common cold, but it is more acute, especially in children.

There are several forms in which angina can manifest itself:

1. Catarrhal is a mild form, the symptoms of which may subside within a week. Microorganisms cause symptoms such as a sore throat and pain that worsens when swallowing. The palatine tonsils are enlarged and covered with a film, the mucous membrane becomes red and inflamed.
2. Follicular – a form with a more acute and prolonged course. The disease begins with an increase in temperature to 38–39 degrees and a general deterioration in health. There is also a severe sore throat that spreads to the ear, nausea and vomiting, and various digestive disorders. The palatine tonsils are enlarged and raised light dots appear on them.
3. Lacunar - the course of angina resembles follicular, but occurs in a more acute form. The tonsils are enlarged and painful, covered with a white film. Symptoms persist for 5–7 days, after which the process gradually begins to subside.
4. Phlegmonous (intratonsillar abscess) is a severe but rare form of angina. Its course is associated with suppuration and purulent melting of the tonsil area. The process is accompanied by an increase in temperature to 38–39 degrees or more, as well as severe headache, nausea, and weakness. Without timely treatment, the disease is dangerous due to general intoxication.
5. Ulcerative is another rare form. Painful sensations are associated with the formation of an ulcer on one of the palatine tonsils. The disease does not cause an increase in temperature, but has a long course - the ulcers completely disappear no earlier than after 1-3 weeks.

Sore throat is a disease that requires timely treatment. If you don't take antibiotics to clear up the infection, there is a chance that complications will develop. These include abscesses, intoxication, fever, and pyelonephritis - inflammation of the kidneys.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. The disease rarely occurs on its own, more often it occurs against the background of whooping cough, bronchitis and other infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. Its causes are streptococci, staphylococci, tuberculosis bacteria and other pathogens. The disease can also be triggered by environmental factors: dust and increased air pollution, smoking, fatigue and prolonged stress on the vocal cords. One of the most dangerous is allergic laryngitis, which can become chronic and cause swelling of the larynx.

The disease is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

• sore throat, sensation of a foreign body when swallowing;
• sore throat;
• chills, fever, weakness and signs of intoxication;
• severe cough, sometimes producing sputum mixed with blood or pus.

Treatment of laryngitis, which occurs in acute form, lasts an average of 7–10 days. If you regularly take antibacterial agents, gargle and perform other procedures prescribed by your doctor, the disease will go away without complications. If left untreated, the disease can become chronic with regular exacerbations.

Peritonsillar abscess

Peritonsillar abscess is one of the most common infectious diseases of the pharynx. It develops in the form of suppuration of the tissue located near the tonsil. The process often occurs as a complication of tonsillitis or chronic tonsillitis and is often located on one side. At the initial stage, inflammation of the soft tissues develops, then they begin to suppurate and form a cavity filled with pus.

A peritonsillar abscess causes the following symptoms:

• sore throat, which worsens when swallowing and turning the head;
• increase in body temperature, including to critical levels;
• spasms of the masticatory muscles - in some cases the patient cannot open his mouth;
• bad breath, characteristic of purulent processes.

Timely treatment is important for peritonsillar abscess, as with other purulent formations. The regimen will include taking antibiotics that will destroy pathogenic microflora. If conservative treatment does not bring results, the abscess is opened. The procedure lasts a few minutes and takes place without complications, after which your health quickly improves.

Viral diseases

A sore throat is the first sign of viral respiratory diseases. Influenza and ARVI appear during periods of decreased immunity, in response to the proliferation of pathogenic microflora on the mucous membrane. Viruses are constantly in the external environment, but human immunity builds a barrier against them. As a result of a decrease in protection, viruses enter the body with inhaled air, and a typical picture of a cold develops:

• pain and sore throat;
• temperature rise, in some cases to high levels;
• headaches and dizziness, weakness;
• cough and other symptoms.

Even if the cold is mild, you must remain in bed until complete recovery. If you return to normal life, even with a slightly elevated temperature and sore throat, the process can develop into a chronic stage. In advanced cases, the infection spreads to the lower respiratory system and causes viral pneumonia.

Osteochondrosis

Main article: Headache with cervical osteochondrosis

One of the reasons why your throat and head hurts is osteochondrosis of the cervical spine . This is a common disorder that occurs in patients of any age. The disease occurs when the intervertebral cartilage becomes thinner. In advanced stages, osteochondrosis is manifested by intervertebral protrusions and hernias - protrusion of discs, up to the rupture of their membrane.

Previously, it was believed that osteochondrosis was a disease that occurred only in older people. However, its causes include various factors:

• uneven load on the intervertebral discs, which can be caused by incorrect posture, carrying bags on one shoulder, congenital curvature of the spine;
• a sedentary lifestyle is the cause of insufficient development of skeletal muscles;
• playing sports that involve falls and increased stress on the cervical spine;
• history of trauma.

Typical symptoms of osteochondrosis are pain and crunching in the neck. However, at the initial stages they may be absent. The disease is determined by additional signs: increased or decreased blood pressure, headache and dizziness, numbness of the fingers. Treatment is selected individually, depending on the degree of damage to the intervertebral discs. In most cases, taking medications and special exercises is sufficient, but in advanced stages surgery may be required.

Other reasons

Head and throat pain are symptoms that can occur due to various diseases. They are associated with infectious and inflammatory processes, mechanical damage to the mucous membrane and other factors. The examination may reveal the following disorders that lead to painful sensations:

• overwork and tension of the vocal cords;
• chicken pox is an infectious disease that initially resembles a cold, but then manifests itself as a skin rash;
• neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve - acute, shooting pain, the patient cannot swallow food;
• neoplasms – the appearance of a lump or lump in the neck area requires urgent examination;
• diseases of the thyroid gland - it is located on the front surface of the neck, so when it is inflamed, pain is also felt when swallowing.

All diseases that can cause sore throat, headaches and related symptoms require more detailed diagnosis. It is important to determine what caused the pain in order to begin treatment in time.