Vasodilation or vascular headaches are caused by the dilation and/or expansion of the blood vessels and arteries in and around the skull. This swelling forms a pressure across the forehead, oftentimes creating what we know as a migraine.

Internal traction, most often associated with organic (meaning coming from within, not from external forces such as a strong odor or stress) headaches, indicates the presence of a tumor, abscess, infection, swelling or hematoma. This type of headache is very serious.

Inflammation headaches also require immediate medical care, as they accompany another problem, usually a disease of the eyes, ears, nose, teeth or sinuses, or a neck or jaw disorder. This type of headache occurs when your child’s tissues are injured or irritated and become inflamed.

Lastly, “some children’s headaches are accompanied by seizure-like behavior, similar to children who have epilepsy.” Tests on a neurogenic or epileptic headache will not usually reveal a clinical cause, but “a passing neurological disorder that can be managed with medication and might eventually disappear on its own,” according to the National Headache Foundation. Easing the Pain

Your six-year-old has been whiny lately, complaining of a headache. What should you do? According to Kuttner, we first need to respond to the pain in a caring practical manner. Ask on a scale of one to ten how bad it hurts.

Inform the child about what is happening in his body. Six-year-olds are in the exploratory age where they love to discover how things work, including the human body. Get out the encyclopedia if you have to and read it together. Not only will this create a bond if you “problem-solve” the headache together, but snuggle or hold the child while you research.