A headache diary for your child helps the neurologist get to the right diagnosis and treatment faster. Here is how to track headaches in children simply and effectively.
Key Points
- Children's headache diaries should track: time, duration, severity (use a faces pain scale for young children), activity, sleep the night before, and whether school was missed.
- Involve the child in filling the diary — it builds self-awareness and makes appointments more productive.
- Patterns parents miss: headaches always after screen time, on Monday mornings (weekend sleep-in), or linked to certain foods.
- Consistent diary use for 2–3 months reduces GP/neurologist appointments by helping identify the cause faster.
- A headache frequency of ≥4/month warrants preventive treatment discussion.
4 per month
headache frequency threshold warranting preventive treatment
Source: AAN
70%
of childhood migraines have identifiable triggers found through diary
Source: AAP
2 months
average time to identify consistent trigger pattern in children
Source: AMF
"Parents are often surprised when the diary reveals that their child's headaches always happen after 5+ hours of gaming or on mornings after late bedtimes. Simple behavioural changes then eliminate the headaches completely — no medication needed."
Your child gets headaches regularly, and you are heading to see a neurologist. Before anything else — start a headache diary. Here is a simple version designed for parents to fill in for younger children, and for older children to complete themselves.
What to Record for Each Headache Episode
- Date and day of the week
- Day at school or at home? (helps identify if school stress is a pattern)
- What time did the headache start?
- How long did it last?
- Where was the pain? (whole head, one side, behind eyes, top — let the child point)
- How bad was it? — use a simple scale for younger children: mild (could still play), moderate (stopped playing, wanted to rest), severe (crying, could not do anything)
- Did they feel sick/vomit?
- Were they bothered by light or noise?
- What made it worse or better? (lying down in dark, vomiting, sleeping)
- Did they miss school?
- What did they eat or drink that day? (possible trigger — chocolate, MSG, skipped meal)
- Sleep last night: Good / less than usual
- Any stressful event: Exam, fight with friend, teacher scolded
- Medicine given: What, dose, time, did it help?
Keep Even the "No Headache" Days
Simply marking "no headache" on headache-free days is equally important. The total headache days per month determines whether preventive treatment is needed.
Bring 4 Weeks of Data
Four weeks of diary data is ideal. If the appointment is sooner, bring whatever you have. Even 1–2 weeks is far better than nothing. A free notebook or the back of your child's homework diary works perfectly.
"When a parent walks in with a detailed 4-week headache diary for their child, we can often make the correct diagnosis and begin the right treatment within the first consultation — rather than needing multiple return visits."
Dr. Anand Karnam evaluates children's headache including migraine at Sri Anand Child and Neuro Center, Chanda Nagar. Call +91 90633 66983.
Dr. Anand Karnam
Consultant Neurologist & Headache Specialist · Sri Anand Child and Neuro Center
DrNB-qualified Neurologist, Fellow of the World Headache Society (FWHS), and Headache Specialist with 12+ years of experience treating epilepsy, stroke, migraine, and movement disorders. Practices at Sri Anand Child and Neuro Center, Chanda Nagar, Hyderabad.
References & Sources
- 1.Headache Diary — American Migraine Foundation — American Migraine Foundation
- 2.Migraine in Children — AAP — American Academy of Pediatrics
- 3.Headache Disorders — WHO — World Health Organization
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