Some nine in 10 school-age children get headaches at some stage, with many of them suffering unnecessarily, pharmacists have said.

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) is calling on parents to be vigilant in helping their children to avoid getting headaches.

According to IPU vice-president, Kathy Maher, headaches in children can be caused by a number of triggers.

"These include tension, stress, irregular eating and sleep patterns, dehydration and eating certain foods and drinks," she explained.

The IPU, as part of Headache Awareness Week, is highlighting a few simple steps parents can take to stop their child from suffering unnecessarily with headaches. They are:

-Ensure the child gets plenty of sleep by going to bed at a set time every night
-Ensure the child drinks plenty of water, particularly if running around or playing sports
-Do not let the child drink too many soft drinks as these may include caffeine
-Ensure the child is not spending too much time sitting in front of a screen, whether this is a TV screen or a computer/games console screen
-Reassure and support the child if they are upset or nervous about something, as stress can bring on headaches.

"Of particular concern are headaches that occur after a head injury or those accompanied by rash, fever or sleepiness. In these cases, parents or guardians should seek immediate medical advice," Ms Maher added.

Headache Awareness Week runs from March 16-23.