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Previous studies have evaluated the clinical features and characteristics of migraine in selected children attending hospital clinics. There have, however, been no community studies on the prevalence and characteristics of migraine in children aged 3-11 years in British general practice. In this study, a total of 1,083 children (from 1,104 registered with a general practice) and their parents were interviewed. Possible migraine sufferers took part in an extended interview that assessed various characteristics of the patients and their attacks. The survey showed that migraine attacks started in infancy, and migrainous children were more likely to have mothers with migraine. Some clinical features were found to be age-dependent. Compared with similar hospital surveys there was a lower frequency of attacks recorded but the prevalence of aura was similar to that found in previous studies.

SUMMARY In a survey conducted by a UK urban general practice, 98·1 per cent (1083) of the children registered aged three to 11 years took part in an interview. Possible migraine subjects took part in an extended interview, the results of which were recorded using three different sets of diagnostic criteria: Vahlquist, Ad Hoc and International Headache Society. The prevalence of migraine ranged from 3·7 to 4·9 per cent, depending on the criteria used. The prevalence of migraine with aura (1·5 per cent) was similar by all criteria, whereas that for migraine without aura ranged from 2·2 to 3·4 per cent. The prevalence of migraine increased with age. The IHS criteria appeared less sensitive than the Ad Hoc for migraine without aura. Operational criteria using three attacks lasting longer than one hour may be more specific for the diagnosis of migraine in young children. RÉSUMÉ Epidémiologie des maux de tête et migraine de l'enfance dans la pratique urbaine génerale, utilisant les critères Ad Hoc, Vahlquist et IHS Dans une étude de pratique générale au Royaume Uni, 98·1 pour cent (1083) des enfants recencés de trois à 11 ans prirent part aux entretiens. Les sujets exposés a la migraine bénéficièrent d'entretiens plus apprafondis dont les résultats furent enregistrés selon trois ensembles de critères diagnostiques: Valhlquist, Ad Hoc et l'International Society Headache. La prévalence de la migraine était comprise entré 3·7 et 4·9 pour cent. Selon les critères utilisés la prévalence de la migraine avec aura (1·5 pour cent) était identique pour tous les critères tandis que la prévalence de la migraine sans aura allait de 2·2 a 3·4 pour cent. La prévalence de la migraine augmentait avec l'âge. Les critères IHS sont apparus moins sensibles que les critères Ad Hoc pour la migraine sans aura. Les critères operationnels partant de trois attaques durant plus d'une heure peuvent être plus specifiques pour le diagnostic de migraine chez le jeune enfant. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Epidemiologie des Kopfschmerzes und der kindlichen Migräne in einer städtischen Allgemeinpraxis unter Verwendung der Ad Hoc, Vahlquist Und IHS Kriterien In einer Übersicht einer UK Allgemeinpraxis nahmen 98·1 Prozent (1083) der registrierten Patienten an einem Interview teil. Potentielle Migränepatienten wurden eingehender befragt und die Ergebnisse wurden nach drei verschiedenen diagnostischen Kriterien aufgezeichnet: Valquist, Ad Hoc und International, Headache Society. Die Häufigkeit der Migräne schwankte zwischen 3·7 und 4·9 Prozent, was von den benutzten Kriterien abhing. Die Häufigkeit der Migräne mit Aura (·5 Prozent) war bei alien Kriterien ähnlich, während die der Migräne ohne Aura zwischen 2·2 und 3·4 schwankte. Die Migränehäufigkeit nahm mit dem Alter zu. Die IHS Kriterien schienen für die Migräne ohne Aura weniger empfindlich zu sein als die von Ad Hoc. Bei jungen Kindern sind drei über eine Stunde dauernde Anfälle spezifischer für die Diagnose der Migräne. RESUMEN Epidemiologia de la cefalalgia y de la migraña infantil en la practica general urbana ut...

The lifetime prevalence of headache and migraine was assessed in an unselected sample of atopic (asthma, eczema or rhinitis) children in a general practice population of known socio-economic and age/sex composition. Maternal migraine was also recorded. The prevalence of both headache and migraine was significantly and proportionally higher in children with atopic disorders compared to those without. Childhood migraine was associated with atopy and the association was strongest with rhinitis. Rhinitis in children was associated with maternal migraine. A history of atopy (especially rhinitis) supports the diagnosis of migraine in young children with paroxysmal headaches.

The incidence of the life time history of both maternal migraine and depression were assessed in children with headache, migraine, recurrent abdominal pain and abdominal migraine. An epidemiological survey of 1,104 children registered with a general practice was undertaken. The incidence of maternal migraine and depression agreed with previous estimates. Children with migraine had a greater proportion of mothers with a history of migraine than those who experienced headache alone compared with controls. The survey showed that mothers with depression predisposed their children to headache but not specifically migraine. A history of maternal depression and migraine was significantly more common and proportionately higher in children with abdominal migraine and recurrent abdominal pain.

SUMMARY The present study examined the epidemiology of abdominal migraine among 1104 children registered with a general practice. There was a similar prevalence of recurrent abdominal pain as in other studies (8.4 per cent). The prevalence of headache was higher among children with recurrent abdominal pain and significantly so among girls. Migrainous headache was not significantly more prevalent in children with recurrent abdominal pain. The prevalence of abdominal migraine with and without migrainous headache was 0.7 and 1–7 per cent, respectively. The peak prevalence of abdominal migraine without migrainous headache was between five and seven years for both seses. When associated with migrainous headache, i t peaked at five to seven years in girls and seven to nine years in boys. The syndrome was associated with travel sickness and was more common among girls and those with a maternal history of migraine. Many children were photo‐ and phonophobic during an atrack. RÉSUMÉ L’épidétniologie cliniqiie de la migraine abdominate de I’ enfance dons la praiique généralisre urbaine L'erude présentée établit I‘épidémiologie de la migraine abdominale parmi 1104 enfants observes en pratique généraliste. La prévalence des douleurs abdominales répétées était comparable à celle d'autres ètudes (8.4 pour cent). La prévalence des maux de tétéétait plus élévee parmi les enfants présentant des douleurs abdominales répétées et cela surtout chez les filles. La prévalence de maux de téte migraineux n'etait pas significativement plus élevee chez les enfants avec douleurs abdominales répétées. La prévalence de la migraine abdominale avec et sans maux de téte migraineux était respectivement de 0.7 et 1.7 pour cent. La pointe de prévalence de migraine abdominale sans maux de téte migraineux se situait entre cinq et sept ans pour les deus sexes. En cas d'association avec des maux de téte migraineux, la pointe se situait entre cinq et sept ans chez les filles, sept et neuf ans chez les garçons. Le syndrome était associé au mal des transporte et plus commun chez les filles et les enfants de meres migraineuses. Beaucoup d'enfant étaient photophobiques et phonophobiques au cours des crises. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG klinische Epidemiologie der kinderlichen abdominellen Migraine in einer Landarztpraxis Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte die Epidemiologie der abdominellen Migraine bei 104 Kindern in einer Allgemeinarztpraxis. Es fand sich eine vergleichbare Häufigkeit der rezidivierenden abdominellen Schmerzen wie in anderen Studien (8 ‐4 Prozent). Die Häfigkeit der Kopfschmerzen war bei Kindern mit rezidivierenden Bauchschmerzen höher und bei Mädchen sogar signifikant höher. Migraineartige Kopfschmerzen waren bei Kindern mit rezidivierenden Bauchschmerzen nicht signifikant häufiger. Die Häufigkeit der abdominellen Migraine mit und ohne Migraine ähnliche Kopfschmerzen betrug 0.7 bzw 1.7 Prozent. Der Häufigkeitsgipfel der abdominellen Migraine ohne Migraine ähnliche Kopfschmerzen fand sich bei beiden Geschlechtern zwischen fünf und sieben Jahren. In Verb...

Asthma is one of the commonest of chronic illnesses affecting children. Parental smoking has been considered to have an effect on this. In an attempt to clarify the relationship between parental smoking and the prevalence of childhood asthma we interviewed parents of 97.5% of the children aged 3-11 years registered with a large urban British general practice. We found a lifetime prevalence of asthma of 19.6%, 23.2% of boys and 15.9% of girls. Asthma was more common, 37.6%, in children who also had eczema. Parental smoking appeared to increase the prevalence of asthma. This was more marked when both parents smoked.

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