What causes headache and vomiting in children without fever, and what should be done?
Generally speaking, the main causes of headache and vomiting without fever in children mainly include improper diet, lack of sleep, migraines, acute gastroenteritis, and increased intracranial pressure. If symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely treatment at a regular hospital. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Improper Diet
Overeating or consuming excessive amounts of cold or greasy foods can burden the gastrointestinal tract, leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction and vomiting. Simultaneously, discomfort signals from the gastrointestinal tract transmitted to the brain can trigger headaches. Dietary adjustments are needed, and easily digestible foods like millet porridge and soft noodles should be consumed temporarily.
2. Lack of Sleep
Long-term insufficient sleep duration or poor sleep quality in children can affect neural repair in the brain, causing cerebral vascular spasm and headaches, as well as gastrointestinal dysfunction leading to vomiting. A regular sleep schedule should be established in daily life to ensure children sleep 10–12 hours daily, and vigorous activities should be avoided before bedtime.
3. Migraine
Migraines in children can be triggered by genetic factors, emotional changes, and other influences. Pain stimulation can lead to abnormal gastrointestinal motility and cause vomiting. The child should rest in a quiet environment, avoid strong light stimulation, and take medications such as ibuprofen suspension, acetaminophen suspension drops, or pediatric compound yangjiao granules under medical guidance to relieve headaches.
Consumption of food contaminated with bacteria can cause acute gastroenteritis in children. Inflammatory stimulation of the gastrointestinal mucosa leads to vomiting, and toxins produced by the inflammation can stimulate the nerves in the head, causing headaches. Under medical guidance, antibiotics such as cefixime granules and medications like smectite powder should be taken to fight infection, protect the gastrointestinal mucosa, replenish fluids to prevent dehydration, and alleviate headache and vomiting.
5. Increased Intracranial Pressure
Increased intracranial pressure caused by conditions such as intracranial tumors or hydrocephalus can compress brain tissue and cause headaches, while simultaneously stimulating the vomiting center, resulting in projectile vomiting. Immediate medical attention is required. If diagnosed with hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal shunting may be performed; if an intracranial tumor is present, tumor resection should be considered based on individual circumstances. After surgery, medications such as mannitol injection, furosemide tablets, and vitamin B1 tablets may be taken under medical guidance to reduce intracranial pressure, provide neurotrophic support, and alleviate symptoms.
In daily life, it is important to ensure children maintain regular eating habits, avoid overeating and consuming unclean food, ensure sufficient sleep, develop good作息 habits, pay attention to children's emotions to avoid excessive tension and anxiety, and schedule regular health checkups to detect and address health issues promptly, thus maintaining the child's overall health.
