¹Department of Neuropediatrics, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
²German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ), partner site Greifswald/Rostock, Greifswald, Germany
³Drug Safety Center, Leipzig University and Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
⁴Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

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Background: Headaches in children and adolescents are common and can significantly affect their and their families’ daily lives. However, little is known about how the children’s headaches are managed at home.

Materials and Methods: We invited children and adolescents and their parents who visited the neuropediatric department of a university hospital due to headache to participate in the study. We interviewed the pediatric patients and asked the accompanying parents to complete a questionnaire.

Results: We included 98 pediatric patients and their parents who reported on current medication use for the child’s headache. The affected patients were 13.9 (median; Q25/Q75 10.8/15.5; min/max 6.1/17.9) years old, 51% of them were female. 38% of patients and 42% of parents reported that headache medication was “always” or “often” used. On the question who decides if medication is taken, 32% of patients and 7% of parents stated that the child decided while 33% of patients and 65% of parents said that they shared decision making. Of patients, 53% reported to have free access to the medication while 41% of parents stated that their child had free access. 61% of parents stated that the medications had been recommended by a physician, 7% by a pharmacist, and 2% by both healthcare professionals. Of parents, 27% did not report on a physician’s or pharmacist’s recommendation, and 3% did not answer the question.

Conclusion: Children and adolescents with headaches report greater autonomy in managing medication than their parents perceive. Guidance on headache medication use from healthcare professionals seems to be lacking in about one-third of families. Therefore, healthcare professionals should proactively offer support to families. In particular, pharmacists should be aware when analgesics are purchased for children and adolescents and advise medical consultation when appropriate.