By the age of fifteen, 5% of all children and adolescents have reported to experience migraine type headaches and 15% have reported to have tension type headaches. Here’s another startling fact; headaches often run in the family. If one parent suffers from migraines, there is a 50% chance that their child will also suffer from migraines. When both parents have a history of migraine, the chance that the child will develop migraines goes up to 70%.

The Symptoms

     Childhood headaches can be caused by several factors. Headaches in children may be associated with a cold, fever, or infection. If headaches persist after such colds and infections are gone, a doctor should be consulted to rule out an underlying organic disease.
Basically, four questions should be answered:

1. Is there a progression of frequency or severity of the headaches?
2. Are the headaches of recent onset of 6 months or less?
3. Are there any symptoms such as visual disturbances, speech problems, or muscle weakness?
4. Are there any cognitive behavioral changes such as memory loss?

If the answer is no to these questions, then the possibility of serious organic disease is remote, but should be ruled out by a qualified medical professional. Cervicogenic headaches are severe headaches that often appear to resemble tension and/or migraine headaches, but are induced by injuries to the structures of the upper cervical spine (the top of the neck).   Dr. Peter Rothbart, M.D., president of the World Cervicogenic Headache Society, explains cervicogenic headache,

      “Cervicogenic headache is a headache which has its origin in the area of the neck.      The source of pain is found in structures around the neck, which have been damaged. These structures can include joints, ligaments, muscles, and cervical discs, all of which have complex nerve endings. When these structures are damaged, the nerve endings send pain signals up the pathway from the upper nerves of the neck to the brain. During this process they intermingle with the nerve fibers of the trigeminal nerve. Since the trigeminal nerve is responsible for the perception of head pain, the patient therefore experiences the symptoms of headache.” 

     Thus, many patients who thought they had tension type headache or migraine headache often respond to cervicogenic headache diagnosis and treatment. The causes of cervicogenic headache are often trauma to the head and/or neck. Often when counseling parents of children with headaches, the doctor will ask whether their child has ever had trauma to the neck from rough sports, or from accidents, or does their child report that their neck is stiff at times and painful or difficult to move? 

     If the answer is yes to any of these questions, the child may be suffering from cervicogenic headache. Most parents are excited to discover that the treatment for cervicogenic headaches does not have to involve medication. State of the art treatment for cervicogenic headaches involves restoring the structures in the neck to a more normal position by using a procedure known as the atlas orthogonal procedure. 

    Initially, a thorough history and examination are performed. If evidence of damage to the neck is evident, precision x-rays are taken which provide a 3-dimensional model of the neck. A mathematical analysis is completed which tells the doctor how to correct the problem. The board certified atlas orthogonal doctor then inputs this information into an instrument known as an atlas orthogonal percussion instrument which gently restores the structure and function of the neck using a percussive sound wave. No manipulation or twisting of the neck is performed in this procedure. 

   A growing body of literature relates headaches to injury of the neck. Unfortunately, these kinds of headaches are often misdiagnosed and often go untreated or improperly managed. This can lead to years of unnecessary pain and suffering. If a child suffers from headaches and has not responded to treatment, a consultation with a specialist in treating the head and neck with the atlas orthogonal procedure is warranted.