Specific features of migraine syndrome in children

Abstract

The aim of the study was to define factors that can be used to distinguish migraine headaches from primary non-migraine headaches. Specific characteristics of headaches were analysed in 30 636 children aged 3–17; 18.97% had recurrent primary non-migraine headaches, whereas 8.63% had migraine headaches. Migraine attacks follow identical patterns (94.9%): occurring monthly (78.0%), occurring in morning hours (58.5%), lasting for several hours (45.1%) and ending after sleep (76.7%). Nausea, vomiting impulse and vomiting are basic present elements of migraine attacks in children. Canonical discriminate analysis defined the following statistically significant factors, which can distinguish migraine headaches from primary non-migraine headaches in children: relief after sleep (0.945), vomiting impulse (0.945), photophobia (0.523), nausea (0.379), phonophobia (0.354) and vomiting (0.330).

Headache in School Children

“…usually start in the morning hours (58.5%) and resolve after a period of sleep (76.7%). The most specific features separating migraines from tension-type headache are improvement after sleeping, the presence of nausea and vomiting, worsening with physical activity and photo-, phono-or osmophobia (5).…”

Epidemiology, Characteristics and Distinctiveness of Headaches in Children from Vojvodina, Serbia

“…RH appear with higher frequency in the second-born child (1: 1.73, compared with the first-born one), but without significant difference when compared with other children in a family [22] . 37% of the children observed were from families with 2 children, and only 4.5% of them came from families with 3 or more children.…”

“…In addition, the distribution could reflect some concern among primary care medical doctors of a link with serious diseases of the central nervous system. Nonspecific medication given more than twice per week was noted in 13.5% of children with RH, being 7 times more frequently used in children with nonmigraine than in children with migraine headache [22] . Brna et al [23] found that nonprescribed medications were used by 70% of those with ongoing headaches, while prescribed medications were used by 14% of persons with headache.…”

“…Despite the painful, costly and disabling features of headache, many patients with headache do not seek medical advice. Only 4% of observed children with migraine headache have been previously diagnosed and adequately treated [22] .…”

“…Normal daily activity was compromised in children with recurrent nonmigraine headache for 4.17 days/year, and in children with migraine headaches for 2.71 days/ year. This can be explained by parents' psychological tensions and concerns about their children's headaches, which were described in 86.9% of children with nonmigraine and in 13.1% of children with migraine headaches [22] .…”