According to an evaluation by the AOK, more than 21,000 painkillers and antipyretics are prescribed in the Recklinghausen district every year. However, simple measures often help to solve the problem.
Studies have shown that even children and adolescents often complain of headaches. Medicines, on the other hand, should only be given to children after consultation with a doctor, says AOK service region manager Jörg Kock, because: “Not every medicine is suitable for young people and even children can develop a drug-related headache if they take painkillers regularly.”
Medicines for fever and pain are the second most frequently prescribed medicines for children and adolescents up to the age of 18, after medicines for respiratory diseases. This is confirmed by an evaluation by the AOK NordWest. According to this, a total of 21,554 painkillers and antipyretics were prescribed for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 in the Recklinghausen district in 2020.
Stress or anxiety can be the trigger
There are many reasons for headaches: “They can be triggered by external stimuli such as bright light, stale air, noise, heat with high humidity or strong smells. But hunger, too little sleep and exercise, too much sitting and studying in the wrong posture, stress or anxiety are also triggers for headaches,” explains Kock. If a headache occurs suddenly, is very severe or is associated with severe neck pain, vomiting, visual or speech disorders, the expert says that a doctor should be consulted. The same applies if headaches last longer than three days.
Regular sleeping and eating times are important
When children or young people are prone to headaches, simple preventive measures often help: for example, drinking enough water, lots of exercise in the fresh air, regular sleeping and eating times and sufficient rest breaks. Parents can also try to reduce children’s stress by creating a relaxed home environment and giving children time to relax and play freely. In order to track down the causes of the headache, a headache diary is helpful, in which all information about the type, severity, time and duration of the pain is noted.
Rest and sleep can help with acute headaches, a cool cloth on the forehead or – if the child likes it – a little peppermint oil on the temple or forehead (not near the eyes) also brings relief. However, individual intolerance and hypersensitivity should be taken into account, and peppermint oil should not be used on infants and small children.
Study: 68 percent suffer from headaches
According to a study by the Technical University of Dresden, around 68 percent of the almost 3,000 children and young people surveyed stated that they had suffered from headaches in the past three months.
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