Kiel, August 19, 2020. Headaches are already widespread among children and adolescents in Schleswig-Holstein. This is shown by the new headache report from the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), which was presented today in Berlin. According to this, one in eight Schleswig-Holsteiners between the ages of 15 and 19 suffers from a doctor-diagnosed headache (12.5 percent). In addition, there is an unknown number of sufferers who treat headaches through self-medication. In children up to 14 years old, 3.7 percent are treated by a doctor because of headaches.

“It's amazing that so many younger people are already affected by headaches. That’s why it’s all the more important that parents deal with the issue sensitively and take their children’s complaints seriously,” says Sören Schmidt-Bodenstein, head of the TK state representative in Schleswig-Holstein. This is particularly true for the various forms of migraine, which can cause severe pain and disability and place an enormous burden on children and young people's everyday lives. The report shows that among young people suffering from headaches, around one in three (32.1 percent) suffers from migraines. Among children with headaches it is 19.6 percent.

How to recognize migraines

Migraines and headaches are often used interchangeably in everyday life. But there are essential differences, explains Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel from the Kiel Pain Clinic:

“Today there are over 367 main types of headaches. Extensive new findings have been developed in recent years regarding the origin, diagnosis and effective treatment. Migraines can be recognized by their episodic occurrence with attacks lasting four to 72 hours. The severe or very severe headaches have a pulsating, throbbing character and significantly hinder everyday activities. They get worse during physical activity, so you usually have to stay in bed. Nausea, vomiting, hypersensitivity to noise and light are typical accompanying symptoms. In around ten percent of attacks, neurological symptoms such as flickering vision, dizziness, abnormal sensations, speech disorders, paralysis and impaired consciousness can occur.

Headache knowledge for children

The neurologist and pain therapist emphasizes that knowledge and targeted prevention are important steps in the treatment of migraines and headaches. Planning your daily routine, diet, relaxation breaks, exercise and sleeping habits have a major influence on headaches and migraines. Regular meals and sufficient periods of balance and relaxation should therefore have a permanent place in the everyday lives of children and young people.

New headache advice book for children

The illustrator Eva Ernst and Prof. Hartmut Göbel illustrate this health-promoting behavior with the help of their joint children's book with an information section for parents “Goodbye headaches...be fit as hell”. The free book for children and young people, which the Kiel Pain Clinic published with the support of the Techniker Krankenkasse in August 2020, is available to anyone interested. It can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet or requested free of charge from the Kiel Pain Clinic with a stamped return envelope (see address below).

  • The book “Ade to Kopfschweh” can be downloaded free of charge as an online version at schreiklinik.de/kopfweh-ade
  • Or you can request a book version free of charge by sending a DIN A4 return envelope stamped and addressed with 1.90 euros to the Kiel Pain Clinic, Heikendorfer Weg 9-27, 24149 Kiel
  • Migraine app download: http://qrco.de/migraene-app

The numbers of those affected refer to children and young people who were diagnosed with headaches or migraines during a visit to the doctor. The complete headache report is available on the TK press portal (search number 2088710). Here you can also find further information about the report such as infographics and interviews.