Dr. Tamara Zach MD
(623) 257-ROSE (7673)
Mon - Fri: 8:00AM - 4:00PM
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Pediatric Headache Doctor Phoenix, AZ

Pediatric Headache Doctor Phoenix, AZ

Pediatric headaches and migraines are more common than many parents realize, affecting up to 10% of school-age children. Dr. Tamara Zach MD — Phoenix's board-certified pediatric headache doctor — provides comprehensive headache evaluation and management for children throughout Phoenix, AZ.

Migraines vs. Tension Headaches

Migraines in children often present differently than in adults — episodes may be shorter, more commonly bilateral, and accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Tension-type headaches are typically bilateral, pressing/tightening, and not aggravated by activity.

Headache Red Flags

Seek prompt evaluation for headaches that are sudden and severe ("thunderclap"), worsen with position changes, awaken your child from sleep, are accompanied by fever, stiff neck, or rash, or come with neurological symptoms such as weakness, vision changes, or altered consciousness.

Diagnosis and Workup

Most childhood headaches do not require neuroimaging. Dr. Tamara Zach MD performs a thorough headache history and neurological examination. Brain MRI is ordered when red flags are present or the headache pattern is atypical.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment includes acute medications for relief, preventive medications for frequent migraines, and lifestyle modifications (consistent sleep, hydration, regular meals, stress management). Arizona's heat can be a trigger — hydration strategies are specifically addressed for Phoenix families.

Phoenix's Children's Headache Doctor

Finding the right headache doctor for your child in Phoenix can be difficult. Pediatric migraines and chronic headaches require a specialist who understands childhood headache patterns — not just adult migraine protocols. Dr. Tamara Zach MD is a board-certified pediatric neurologist and children's headache doctor serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the surrounding Valley communities.

Dr. Zach takes a thorough, individualized approach: reviewing headache frequency and triggers, ruling out secondary causes, and building a treatment plan that fits your child's age, lifestyle, and school schedule. Many families find significant relief within the first few visits. If your child has frequent headaches that are interfering with school or daily life, a neurological evaluation is the right next step.

Areas We Serve Across Arizona

We welcome patients from communities throughout Arizona. Click your city for local information.

Ahwatukee Anthem Apache Junction Avondale Benson Bisbee Buckeye Bullhead City Camp Verde Carefree Casa Grande Cave Creek Chandler Chino Valley Clarkdale Clifton Colorado City Coolidge Cottonwood Douglas Duncan Eagar El Mirage Eloy Flagstaff Florence Fountain Hills Fredonia Gila Bend Gilbert Glendale Globe Goodyear Guadalupe Hayden Holbrook Huachuca City Jerome Kearny Kingman Lake Havasu City Laveen Litchfield Park Mammoth Marana Maricopa Mesa Miami Nogales Oro Valley Page Paradise Valley Parker Payson Peoria Pima Pinetop Lakeside Prescott Prescott Valley Quartzsite Queen Creek Safford Sahuarita San Luis San Tan Valley Scottsdale Sedona Show Low Sierra Vista Snowflake Somerton South Tucson Springerville St Johns Star Valley Sun City Sun City West Superior Surprise Taylor Tempe Thatcher Tolleson Tombstone Tucson Wellton Wickenburg Willcox Williams Winkelman Winslow Youngtown Yuma

Frequently Asked Questions

Are headaches common in children? ▼

Yes — pediatric migraines affect up to 10% of school-age children. Headaches are one of the most common reasons children see a pediatric neurologist. Dr. Tamara Zach MD specializes in diagnosing and managing all types of pediatric headaches.

What headache symptoms in children require urgent evaluation? ▼

Seek emergency care for a sudden severe 'thunderclap' headache, headache with fever and stiff neck, headache worsening with position changes, or headache accompanied by vision changes, weakness, or altered consciousness.

How are pediatric migraines treated? ▼

Treatment includes acute medications for individual attacks and preventive strategies for frequent migraines. Dr. Zach creates individualized plans considering the child's age, headache frequency, and triggers — without over-relying on medications.

How far do families from Phoenix travel for headache care? ▼

Rose Medical Pavilion is approximately 12 miles from Phoenix. Families choose to make the drive for access to a pediatric neurology specialist who can differentiate migraine types and create targeted treatment plans beyond what a general pediatrician can offer.

Can children outgrow migraines? ▼

Many children see significant improvement in migraines as they get older, especially boys. However, proper diagnosis and management during childhood improves quality of life and school performance in the meantime.

Is there a headache doctor in Phoenix, AZ who treats children? ▼

Yes. Dr. Tamara Zach, MD FAAN is a board-certified child neurologist treating pediatric headache in Phoenix, AZ at 22044 N 44th St, Suite 200. She treats migraine with and without aura, chronic daily headache, medication-overuse headache, and post-traumatic headache after concussion, in children and teens rather than adults, which changes both the diagnosis and the dosing.

When should a child see a headache doctor instead of their pediatrician? ▼

See a neurologist when headaches occur more than four times a month, when they are severe enough to miss school, when over-the-counter medication is being used more than two days a week, or when the pattern changes. Go to an emergency room instead for a sudden severe headache, a headache with fever and stiff neck, one that wakes your child from sleep, or one with vision changes or weakness.

What does the first headache appointment involve? ▼

Dr. Zach takes a detailed headache history covering timing, triggers, sleep, screen use, caffeine and school stress, and performs a neurological exam including a look at the optic discs. Most children need no imaging: a normal exam with a typical migraine pattern is diagnostic. You leave with an acute treatment plan, and a preventive plan if attacks are frequent.

What does a pediatric headache specialist do? ▼

A pediatric headache specialist is a child neurologist who diagnoses and treats headache disorders specifically in children and teenagers. The distinction matters because childhood migraine often looks nothing like the adult version: attacks are shorter, frequently affect both sides of the head rather than one, and often present with stomach pain or motion sickness instead of the classic aura. Dr. Tamara Zach, MD FAAN is board-certified in neurology with special qualification in child neurology.

How young can a child be seen for headaches? ▼

Dr. Zach evaluates headaches from toddlerhood through the teenage years. Very young children cannot describe pain reliably, so a toddler's headache is often recognised through behaviour instead: head-holding, unusual irritability, light avoidance, sudden stillness during play, or vomiting without other illness. Any recurring pattern of these in a child under five is worth a neurological evaluation.

My child complains of dizziness and headache together. What causes that? ▼

Headache with dizziness in a child most often points to vestibular migraine, in which the balance symptoms are part of the migraine itself and can arrive before the pain does. Other causes include low blood pressure on standing, dehydration, inner-ear conditions, anxiety, and post-concussion syndrome if there was a recent head injury. The combination is worth evaluating rather than treating as two separate complaints, because the pairing itself is diagnostic.

Phoenix Neighborhoods We Serve

Serving Arcadia, Aviano, Biltmore, Camelback East, Desert Ridge, Norterra, North Gateway, South Mountain, Tramonto, Ahwatukee, Laveen

Dr. Tamara Zach sees patients from across Phoenix and its communities. Find neighborhood-specific information below:

Schedule a Consultation

If your child is experiencing symptoms of pediatric headaches and migraines, early evaluation is key. Dr. Tamara Zach MD provides compassionate, expert pediatric neurology care at Rose Medical Pavilion in Phoenix, AZ. Call (623) 257-ROSE (7673) or schedule online today.

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