Objective: Headache is a common complaint in both adults and children. Although the majority of headaches in children are benign, they are still frightening for the parents. The aim of this study was to determine headache types, etiology, triggering factors, associated symptoms, and the necessity of brain imaging techniques in this patient group.

Material and Methods: This study was conducted on children with headaches who presented to the pediatric neurology clinic of Keçiören Training Hospital from November 2014 to January 2015. The criteria defined by the International Headache Society were used to classify the headache types.

Results: One hundred patients consisting of 59 girls and 41 boys, with an age range of 3-17 years, were enrolled in this prospective study. The mean age on admission was 12.8±3.2 years. The duration of headache was more than 2 years in 31% of the patients. The leading cause of headache was migraine in 58 patients (58%), followed by tension type headache in 26 patients (26%). A relevant family history was present in 37 patients (44%) with primary headache. Six patients had cerebral magnetic resonance abnormalities. conclusion: The evaluation of headache should include not only a detailed history of the child but also detailed general and neurological examinations. Neuroimaging should not be part of a routine initial examiation of children with headache

Keywords: Headache, Childhood