Expert Q&A

My daughter has been getting bad headaches ever since she started middle school last year. She gets about two or three a month. Should I be worried?

Preteens and teens often suffer from headaches. There are many potential causes of headaches, and it is often difficult to determine why they occur. Here’s what to do and when to worry:

1. Take your child to the pediatrician. A physical exam can eliminate somewhat obvious issues, such as hypertension or visual problems.

2. Have your child keep a “headache diary.” It may help to document when headaches occur, how long they last, what makes them milder and what circumstances surround their onset. If a triggering event such as diet, stress or anxiety consistently occurs before a headache, treatment and prevention become much easier. If nothing is evident in the diary, medical tests may be necessary.

3. Get medical attention. A series of symptoms require medical attention, including:

• Worst-headache-of-my-life symptoms
• Headaches occurring with exertion
• Headaches associated with nausea or vomiting
• A stiff neck
• Seizures
• Recent head trauma before the onset of the headache
• Blurred vision, slurred speech or serious behavioral changes
• Increasing frequency
• Headaches that impair daily functioning

Dr. Mark Diamond is a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Recent Advice

Vacations are great, but not for my waistline. How can I keep up my fitness routine away from home?

My kids are bored with traditional breakfast foods like eggs and oatmeal. What are some fun things I could serve that would still get them off to a good start?

My 8-year-old would spend hours in the pool if I let her, but I’m worried about all the chemicals in the water. Are they harmful?

My son only eats unhealthy foods and seeks out sugar items whenever possible (and often when we're not around!). I know I should get the bad-to-eat items out of the house, but I have two older kids and no cooperation from my spouse. What can I do?

My son’s sleepaway camp is recommending that all campers get meningitis shots. Is this really necessary?

How do you get underweight kids between ages 5 and 6 to eat more?

No matter how hard I try, I always rush through dinner so I can help my kids with their homework and I end up overeating before I even realize I’m full. How can I prevent this?

Our family is so busy, I often don’t have time to cook at home. Is fast food really that bad for my family?

My 6-year-old daughter sleeps 10 hours a night, but it’s still hard for her to get up! In the morning, she gets upset and won’t eat breakfast (but as soon as she’s on the bus, she’s fine!). What can I do?

My son, who’s 11, has always been average in height and weight, but this year, he’s dropped far below average. Will he catch up again?

My child needs to have surgery next month. How can I prepare her for it?

My kids have after-school activities every day of the week. What kind of snack will give them the energy boost they need to make it until dinner?

My 12-year-old wants to become a vegetarian. How can I make sure he still has a balanced diet?

My daughter had a bronchial infection that caused her to have asthma symptoms. Does this mean she will always have asthma?

My 6-year-old son is getting chubby, and I’m getting worried. What can I do to prevent him from becoming obese?

My 12-year-old daughter was exposed to chickenpox while baby-sitting, but she never had it when she was young. How likely is she to catch it at her age, and what can we do to keep her from getting it?

My 7-year-old has suddenly started waking up several times a night. What can we do to stop this?

How long do children have to brush their teeth to get them really clean?

I often find myself forgetting little things. Is there anything my husband and I can eat to keep our memories sharp?

Q. My daughter is turning 13 this year, and I’m wondering if she’s too old to go to a pediatrician.

I suffer from migraines, but I hate taking medication if I don’t have to. Is there anything else I can do to relieve the symptoms?

High cholesterol runs in my husband’s family, and I want to start preparing more heart-healthy meals for our own family. Can you suggest a strategy I can use?

My 6-year-old son lies about being sick to avoid school and other things he does not want to do. How do you discourage your child from continuing with this type of behavior in a healthy way?

I am a single mother of a 7-year-old boy who still sleeps in the bed with me. He seems to be afraid in his own bed, and I am not sure why. What should I do?

My kids hate veggies. (I don’t like them much either.) Do they really have to eat them to have a healthy diet?

My 5-year-old has such bad sunburn on his back that it’s started to blister. How do I treat it?

My daughter often complains of a tummy ache after drinking milk. Does this mean she’s lactose intolerant? If so, how can I still make sure she gets enough calcium?

I’ve been feeling down lately, and a friend suggested I try walking on my husband’s treadmill in the basement to boost my mood. She swears it cured her own depression. Could that possibly be true?