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Headaches in children

  • Headaches aren’t confined to adults – children can get them too. But because kids often experience headaches differently to adults, they can go unnoticed.
  • A headache or migraine can impact your little one's day and be accompanied by other symptoms such as sickness or tummy ache. However, they do tend to recover quickly.
  • There are some simple measures you can take to help prevent your child developing headache, or to ease symptoms if they are suffering from one.
What to do:

  • have the child lie down quietly in a darkened room

  • apply a cool, moistened towel or cloth to the forehead

  • encourage easy and deep breathing

  • encourage sleep: the body’s natural way of healing

  • invite them to eat or drink (not caffeinated drinks)

  • give paracetamol or Ibuprofen: syrup is easier for kids

  • if your child gets frequent headaches, you can teach them some simple relaxation techniques.

What to avoid:

  • skipping meals

  • dehydration: encourage drinking water throughout the day

  • irregular bedtimes and inadequate sleep

  • caffeinated drinks, which can cause dehydration.

Why Ibuprofen can help?

Ibuprofen relieves pain, fever and has anti-inflammatory properties. It works by reducing hormones that cause pain and swelling in the body, reducing pain, fevers and more.

Why Nurofen for Children can help

Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Suspension provides up to 8-hour pain and fever relief. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is fast-acting, starting to reduce a fever in just 15 minutes. It’s available in strawberry or orange flavours and is free from artificial colours and flavours.

For children over 12 years old, try Nurofen Mint Meltlets. They conveniently dissolve on the tongue, with no need for water – a quick and easy way for older children to move through a headache and get on with their day.

Common types of headaches in children

  • Migraines 
    The wide symptoms of migraines can include a throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound. There can be a warning of disturbed vision at onset (aura migraine).
  • Tension headaches 
    A tension headache can feel like a squeezing pressure to the head or neck, a mild to moderate aching sensation rather than throbbing, with no nausea or sickness. Your child may be sleepier than normal. It can last from half an hour to several days.
  • Medication Overuse headaches
    Painkillers taken too often – more than half the days in a month, can cause headaches in children.

Frequent causes

  • High levels of stress and/or anxiety
  • Dehydration
  • Skipping meals: it can create low blood sugar levels
  • Noisy environments
  • Cold or flu
  • Bad posture
  • Medication overuse
  • Eyesight problems

Products on this page contain Ibuprofen.
Always read the Label.

If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional.
All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe.
In all health matters for further information or medical advice, please speak to your GP or a Pharmacist.

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    Always read the label.

    All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters for further information or medical advice, please speak to your GP or a Pharmacist.

    Nurofen Express 200mg Liquid Capsules, Nurofen Express 400mg Liquid Capsules, Nurofen Back Pain 300mg Sustained Release Capsules, Nurofen Express 684mg Caplets, Nurofen Express 256mg Tablets, Nurofen Joint & Back Pain Relief Max Strength 10% Gel, Nurofen Express Period Pain 200mg Soft Capsules, Nurofen Pain Relief 200mg Soft Capsules, Nurofen 200mg Caplets, Nurofen Express 256mg Tablets, Nurofen Meltlets Lemon. Contains Ibuprofen. For pain relief. Suitable for adults and children over 12 years.
    Nurofen Joint & Muscular Pain Relief 200mg Medicated Plaster, For pain relief of muscular strains or sprains close to the joint of the upper or lower limb. Contain ibuprofen.
    Nurofen Cold & Flu Relief 200mg/5mg Tablets, Nurofen Day & Night Cold & Flu 200mg/5mg Tablets, Contains ibuprofen & phenylephrine hydrochloride, For cold & flu relief.
    Nurofen Migraine Pain, Contains ibuprofen lysine, For the relief of headache and migraine pain.
    Nurofen Plus, Contains ibuprofen and codeine, For the short-term treatment of acute, moderate pain which is not considered to be relieved by other analgesics such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin alone. Suitable for patients over 12 years old. For 3 days use only. May cause addiction.
    Nuromol Dual Action Pain Relief 200mg/500mg tablets. Contains ibuprofen & paracetamol. For pain relief not relieved by ibuprofen or paracetamol individually.
    Nurofen for Children 3 months to 12 years Strawberry Suspension, Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Orange Suspension, Nurofen for Children Cold, Pain and Fever 3 months to 9 years Strawberry/Orange. Contains ibuprofen. For pain and fever relief. For children from 3 months and weighing over 5kg. Nurofen for Children 100mg Chewable Capsules, Soft for children 7+ years. For pain and fever relief. For children from 7 years. Nurofen for Children Strawberry Singles 100mg/5ml Oral suspension. Contains Ibuprofen. For children over 3 months (weighing more than 5kg). For pain and fever relief. Nurofen for Children 200 mg/5 ml Orange Oral Suspension. Contains Ibuprofen. For pain and fever relief. For children from 7 years old and weighing more than 20kg. Always read the label

    * For verification, please contact verify.uk@reckitt.com
    **Refers to absorption
    † 2 capsule dose
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