Medical causes of headache in children

Abstract

Headache may be considered primary or secondary, and secondary headaches may be caused by intracranial disorders or medical/systemic disorders. In many cases, headache may be a presenting symptom of the medical disorder, and accurate diagnosis will lead to specific treatment. In other cases, the headache may be a known complication of the disorder, but the underlying disorder must be considered in management plans. Medical causes of headache are so diverse that uniform screening tests are not useful. History and examination must guide the differential diagnosis, and management plans must be individualized.