Emergency Department Evaluation and Management of Children With Headaches

Headache is a common presenting complaint in the emergency department. It is the third most common reason for pediatric emergency department visits. Headache, particularly migraine, is a cause of significant disability in children and adults. Approaches to treatment of headache are often inconsistent among emergency departments, and treatment sometimes contradicts published evidence and guidelines. This article reviews the evidence on workup and acute treatment of headache with an emphasis on pediatric migraine. Although definitive data are lacking for some aspects of evaluation and treatment, a review of the available data can provide a rational framework for a consistent approach to treating acute headaches.