If head trauma is suspected, see Head Trauma. A mild acute headache often occurs as part of a cold or other viral illness. A high fever often causes a headache. Many children get a headache in the late afternoon when they are hungry. In children and adults the most common cause of recurrent headaches is tension.
Tension headaches give a sensation of tightness that completely encircles the head.
The neck muscles also become sore and tight. Tension headaches can be caused by prolonged use of video games, computers, or typewriters. Recurrent headaches can have numerous causes and deserve a medical evaluation. Others come and go during the illness. Tension headaches usually last from a few hours to a day and tend to recur.