Mom was frustrated doctors couldn't find the cause of her son's splitting headaches — her friend's one question did what no doctor could
Parents rely on doctors when their kids face unexplained health concerns, hoping the tests will provide some answers. But for one mother, medical tests turned frustrating when her son experienced a severe headache, but the doctors could not find the actual cause. Instagram user Joslynn Rae, who goes by @joslynnloveslife, shared the story about her friend on Instagram on August 17, 2026, explaining how her one question helped the mother finally solve the mystery behind her son's headache.
Rae revealed that her friend's young son had been dealing with a severe headache for a few days, and they had taken him to the ER. The doctors ran several tests and performed a CT scan, but his pain still wouldn't go away. Concerned, Rae asked her friend, "Do you have any synthetic fragrance in the house — Febreze, scented candles burning, scented plug-ins, fabric softeners, dryer sheets?" It suddenly hit her, and she replied, "We just got wall plug-ins," adding that they had installed them a few days earlier and that they could possibly be what was troubling her son. Rae urged her to remove them, believing the synthetic fragrances could be contributing to her son's symptoms.
Although Rae was already aware that such fragrances could be harmful to children, she was stunned by how significantly they had affected her friend's son. She also urged brands to warn customers about the products' safety for kids. She went on to warn parents about other scented products commonly used at home, including air fresheners, candles, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets. She emphasized that these products get into their lungs and affect their immune system, especially for kids with allergies, asthma, and headaches. However, these were claims made by Rae in her video and were not established by the medical tests described in the story.
Toward the end of the video, Rae advised her viewers to opt for safer options if they want fragrances in their home. While the tests did not reveal anything, Rae's claims are also consistent with some research on exposure to fragrances. One review on Artificial fragrances and semisynthetic perfumes looked at how repeated exposure to chemicals in scented household and personal care products may affect health. The review linked long-term exposure to problems such as severe headaches, breathing issues, skin irritation, asthma attacks, and possible neurological and hormonal effects. However, the review does not establish that the fragrances caused the boy's headache.
Many people related to this experience and shared their own views in the comments. @bekay3 wrote, “I used to use plug-ins all the time in the '90s and early 2000s with no problems. Then they started giving us headaches and sore throats.” @mrsalihage claimed, “Pets too. Puts them in renal failure and misery up until that point.” Meanwhile, @broken_hearted1989 said, “Bluetooth also triggers migraines. My 14-year-old is dealing with that.”
For more lifestyle-related content, you can follow @joslynnloveslife on Instagram.