Your doctor will likely examine your child for signs of illness, infection or neurological problems and ask about your headache history.
In rare cases, your child may undergo imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI.
CT scans are almost never necessary for diagnosing the cause of chronic, ongoing, stable headaches (or headaches that come and go in a regular pattern). Imaging is useful for acute, once-in-a-lifetime headaches, headaches associated with other symptoms (like seizures or neurologic problems), or progressive headaches that are getting worse and worse.
If your child is referred to Cook Children's Pain Management program for treatment, our team of experts will work to determine the cause of your child's chronic daily headaches, such as tension or migraine, and create a treatment plan that you and your child are comfortable with.