One-year course of paediatric headache in children and adolescents aged 8-15 years

Child-Patient Perspective on Results After Correction of Sagittal Synostosis and the Difference Between Child-Patient and Parent's Perspectives

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the level of child-patient satisfaction with the surgical result after scaphocephaly correction and the difference between child-patient and parents' perspectives.

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent out to children between 6 and 18 years old with isolated sagittal synostosis, who had undergone either a frontobiparietal remodeling or extended strip craniotomy, and separately to their parents.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was completed by 96 patients, 81.2% of the patients considered their head to be similar or slightly different from others. Despite the majority being satisfied with the outcome, 33% would change the shape of their head if they could. Patients who underwent extended strip craniotomy wanted to change the back of their head more often ( P = 0.002), whereas patients who underwent frontobiparietal remodeling wanted to change their forehead ( P = 0.005). The patients' own perspective on head shape was independent of the cephalic index (CI). However, patients with a relatively narrow CI received more remarks from others about their heads ( P = 0.038). Parent and child agreement was 49.7% on average. Differences between child-patients and parents were found in reporting adaptive behavior.

CONCLUSION

The majority of patients were satisfied with the outcome of their intervention. The child's perspective seems to be a valuable addition to evaluate sagittal synostosis surgery as it is independent of the CI and differentiates between different surgical techniques. In addition, the patient's perspective is comparable to the parent's perspective, but gives more details on adaptive behavior.

Description of recurrent headaches in 7-14-year-old children: Baseline data from a randomized clinical trial on effectiveness of chiropractic spinal manipulation in children with recurrent headaches

BACKGROUND

Headaches in children are poorly described and diagnosing can be challenging. Objectives are: (1) to describe headache characteristics and child characteristics, (2) to explore whether data can suggest a more diverse way to categorize headaches than traditionally.

METHODS

Baseline data for a clinical trial included a questionnaire and a physical screening. Children's characteristics and detailed description of headache symptoms were provided. Children were classified for migraine or tension-type-headache based on questionnaire data reported by children and parents. This required to apply slightly modified classification criteria and a "non-classifiable" group was added. Severity and symptoms, related to the migraine versus tension type distinction, were investigated to define a migraine-tension-type-index.

RESULTS

253 children were included. Mean pain intensity was 5.9/10. Over 2/3 of the children had headache for > 1 year, and > 50% for several days/week. Half of the children were non-classifiable, 22% were classified as migraine and 23% as tension-type headache. A migraine-tension-type-index was constructed and describes a continuous spectrum rather than two distinct groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with recurrent headaches are often severely affected. A questionnaire-based classification appeared feasible to distinguish between migraine and tension-type headaches in children but leaving many children unclassified. A migraine-tension-type-index can be generated allowing to regard the traditional distinction as a continuum (including mixed headache), and potentially serving as an instrument to improve headache management. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02684916.

Emotional and behavioral problems in pediatric patients with migraine and tension-type headache

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the associations between psychopathological characteristics of children and adolescents with primary headache, as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and treatment outcomes.

METHODS

A cohort study was conducted on 124 pediatric patients with primary headache. At the first consultation, the SDQ was completed by the parents. The analysis of treatment efficacy was conducted on 90 patients with a follow-up period of at least one year. Treatment responders were defined as those who showed 50% reduction in the headache frequency. First, an analysis of the SDQ total scores and five subscales, among the migraine and tension-type headache groups, was conducted for 124 participants. Second, the association between the SDQ scores and treatment outcomes in the groups with periods of improvement of less than three months and three months or more were analyzed in 90 patients.

RESULTS

Migraine patients displayed more difficulties than strengths in terms of the total score (p = .004) and in the emotional symptoms subscale (p = .012) compared with tension-type headache patients. Migraine patients who required more than three months to show improvement displayed more peer problems (p = .020), while tension-type headache patients who required more than three months to show improvement displayed fewer conduct problems (p = .007).

CONCLUSION

Evaluation of patient characteristics using the SDQ at first consultation can predict the treatment outcome. Moreover, it can help provide appropriate initial treatment and improve outcome of primary headache in children.

Headache in Children and Adolescents

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the approach to a child or adolescent with headache, the criteria for common diagnoses, and the evidence base for treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS

The guidelines for acute and preventive treatment of migraine were updated in 2019. These guidelines summarize the available evidence and outline the questions that should be addressed in future research. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of several new classes of drugs and devices to treat adult migraine in the past few years has resulted in ongoing or planned pediatric trials.

SUMMARY

Headache is a common symptom in children, and it is important to take a detailed history and perform a thorough physical examination to make the diagnosis. Nearly 1 in 10 children experience recurrent headaches due to migraine, which cause significant impairment in school performance and quality of life. The acute and preventive treatments that are currently available will help at least two-thirds of children with migraine, and several trials of new therapies offer hope for the future.

Nonpharmacological Interventions Addressing Pain, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Primary Headache: A Systematic Review

Purpose

Children and adolescents with primary headache are at risk of persistent somatic symptoms and reduced quality of life (Qol) due to pain and pain-related behaviors, such as avoiding school and activities. Sleep is essential to health, and children and adolescents with primary headaches have more sleep complaints than do healthy controls. A treatment approach that addresses multifactorial causes is likely important. Nonpharmacological interventions seem promising. However, knowledge about effective strategies is limited. The objective of this review is to assess the effect of nonpharmacological interventions in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) among children and adolescents with primary headache in order to identify useful strategies.

Patients and methods

Outcome measures are pain, sleep, Qol, and coping versus no intervention or control intervention. Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched for eligible trials. ClinicalTrials.gov. was searched for ongoing trials. Initial searches yielded 2588 publications. After initial screening and subsequent full-text review and quality assessment, 13 RCTs reported in 15 articles were selected for review. All reviewers independently assessed study quality using the CONSORT criteria for nonpharmacological interventions.

Results

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including education on pain-related topics, sleep, coping, and stress management, is an effective strategy for reducing headache and pain within groups over time. Fifteen studies assessed pain, 3 studies assessed sleep, 6 studies assessed Qol, and 11 studies assessed coping.

Conclusion

Strategies identified as useful were parts of CBT interventions. However, it was not possible to identify a single effective intervention addressing pain, sleep, Qol, and coping in children and adolescents with headache, primarily because sleep was infrequently addressed. Various aspects of Qol and coping strategies were assessed, rendering comparison difficult. Strategies for future interventions should include descriptions of theory-driven CBT interventions, depending on clinical setting and based on local resources, to promote a solid evidence base for nonpharmacological interventions.

Age- and sex-specific first health care use for migraine in 2016 in children and adolescents from prospectively collected health insurance data in Germany

BACKGROUND

Migraine in children and adolescents is associated with significant disability and a high risk of persistence into adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

Data on migraine incidence in children and adolescents are few and relatively coarse. To tailor interventions starting shortly after disease onset, detailed information on age- and sex-specific incidence of migraine in children and adolescents is needed.

METHODS

We used health care data prospectively collected by the BARMER statutory health insurance, representing ∼11% of the German population. The incidence of migraine diagnoses (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code G43) in the year 2016 was assessed in subjects aged 0-19 years, who had been continuously insured with the BARMER between 2005 and 2016 or during their entire lifespan.

RESULTS

Data from ∼1.2 million children and adolescents were available. The incidence of migraine diagnoses steadily increased with age, reaching ∼1% per year around the age of 10 for both sexes, and 3.49% per year in females and 1.72% per year in males at the age of 19. Incidences in males and females were similar up to the age of 13 and higher in females from there on. The proportion of incident migraine diagnoses specified as "definite" versus "probable" migraine increased with age.

CONCLUSION

The present study provides a representative estimation of the first documented health care use for migraine in children and adolescents in Germany within 1-year age bins, separately for boys and girls. These data will be helpful for tailoring early healthcare interventions to reduce disability and prevent migraine chronification.

Long-term follow-up of a community sample of adolescents with frequent headaches

Background

Several outcome studies have reported on the short- and long-term effects of migraine in selected clinical samples of children and adolescents. However, current knowledge of the course, incidence, and outcome predictors of frequent headaches in early adolescents in community populations is limited, and little is known about the long-term effects. Headache remains untreated in most of these young people. Here we examined the course, incidence, and outcome predictors of frequent headaches (at least once a week) over the long term (14 years) using previously assessed data at the baseline and 1-year follow-up of early adolescents.

Methods

Out of an original sample of 2440 who participated in the first two assessments, a sample of 1266 participants (51.9% response rate) aged 26–28 years (mean = 27.2 years) completed an electronic questionnaire comprising questions about their headache frequency and duration at the long-term follow-up. These headache characteristics together with gender, age, parental divorce, number of friends, school absence, impairment of leisure-time activities and seeing friends, pain comorbidity, and emotional (in particular, depressive symptoms) and behavioral problems were analyzed.

Results

In these young people, 8.4% reported frequent headaches (at least once a week) at the extended follow-up, while 19% of the participants having such headaches at baseline again reported such levels with a negligible gender difference. Over the follow-up period, 7.4% had developed frequent headaches, and a higher percentage of females reported such headaches (11.3% in females, 1.5% in males). In a multivariate model, frequent headaches at the baseline, gender (worse prognosis in females), impairment of leisure-time activities and seeing friends, and higher level of depressive symptoms significantly predicted headache frequency at the long-term follow-up.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that gender, greater social impairment, and comorbid depressive symptoms are important indicators for both the short- and long-term prognosis of frequent headaches in early adolescents in community populations.

Psychological predictors of headache remission in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Longitudinal studies on headaches often focus on the identification of risk factors for headache occurrence or "chronification". This study in particular examines psychological variables as potential predictors of headache remission in children and adolescents.

METHODS

Data on biological, social, and psychological variables were gathered by questionnaire as part of a large population-based study (N=5,474). Children aged 9 to 15 years who suffered from weekly headaches were selected for this study sample, N=509. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with remission as the dependent variable. In the first step sex, age, headache type, and parental headache history were entered as the control variables as some data already existed showing their predictive power. Psychological factors (dysfunctional coping strategies, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, somatosensory amplification) were entered in the second step to evaluate their additional predictive value.

RESULTS

Highly dysfunctional coping strategies reduced the relative probability of headache remission. All other selected psychological variables reached no significance, ie, did not contribute additionally to the explanation of variance of the basic model containing sex and headache type. Surprisingly, parental headache and age were not predictive. The model explained only a small proportion of the variance regarding headache remission (R(2) =0.09 [Nagelkerke]).

CONCLUSION

Successful coping with stress in general contributed to remission of pediatric headache after 2 years in children aged between 9 and 15 years. Psychological characteristics in general had only small predictive value. The issue of remission definitely needs more scientific attention in empirical studies.

Early Diagnosis of Migraine Necessary in Children: 10-Year Follow-Up

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of migraine in individuals younger than 20 years old is 8%, with a mean age at onset of younger than 8 years. However, the long-term prognosis of migraine attacks has not been clearly established.

OBJECTIVE

Our main objective was to evaluate disease course 10 years after migraine diagnosis in a cohort of children and adolescents.

METHODS

Migraine was diagnosed in 1999 in a pediatric headache reference center using International Headache Society criteria. In 2009, all patients were interviewed by telephone on the persistence and characteristics of any headaches. The main end point was prevalence of persistent migraine attacks in 2009. Variables associated with persistent attacks were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, 142 children were diagnosed with migraine in 1999. Of these, 84 were interviewed by telephone in 2009. In 1999, the mean age was 11.6 ± 3.1 years, 54% were male, and 50% had migraine without aura. Migraine attacks were common (1-3 attacks/week in 38%). Mean age at onset was 7 years and 4 months (±3 years). In 2009, migraine prevalence was 39/84 (46% [95% confidence interval 36-56]), 12 patients (14%) were headache-free, and 62 patients (74%) had tension-type headaches that were isolated headaches in 33 (39%) patients. The rate of patients with at least one migraine attack per week fell from 37% to 8% (P = 0.001) over the 10-year period. Age at the first visit to the center was significantly higher in 2009 migraine sufferers than nonsufferers (12.5 ± 3.0 versus 10.9 ± 3.1 years (P = 0.02)). In multivariate analysis, age ≥12 years at the time of first presentation was the only significant factor associated with long-term chronic migraine (odds ratio = 3.0 [1.1-8.0]).

CONCLUSIONS

Ten years after first presentation, 46% of patients had migraine but the frequency of attacks had diminished. The only factor associated with chronic migraine was age ≥12 years at first presentation.

Headache in school children: prevalence and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Recurrent headache is a common problem in school children. Evaluation generally leads to the diagnosis of a primary headache syndrome (migraine or tension-type headache). This review is addressed to the question whether headaches in school children are becoming more common and, if so, what risk factors are associated with the rise in frequency.

METHOD

We selectively searched the PubMed database for pertinent publications that contained the terms "primary headache AND children/adolescent AND risk factors/prevalence." Articles published in either English or German up to April 2013 were considered. Articles on secondary types of headache were excluded.

RESULTS

Headaches are becoming more common among school children. At present, 66% to 71% of 12- to 15- year-olds have at least one headache every three months, and 33% to 40% have at least one per week. Headache is often accompanied by other physical and/or emotional manifestations. Studies from Scandinavia reveal increasing prevalence in age groups from 8 years of age and upward. Various studies have identified the following risk factors for headache or for its chronification (up to 5.8-fold elevation of risk): a dysfunctional family situation, the regular consumption of alcohol, caffeine ingestion, smoking, a low level of physical activity, physical or emotional abuse, bullying by peers, unfair treatment in school, and insufficient leisure time.

CONCLUSION

Headaches are becoming more common among children and adolescents. They are often associated with other physical and emotional complaints.

Pediatric migraine and episodic syndromes that may be associated with migraine

Importance

Migraine is a common disorder and a frequent cause of medical consultation in children. Many childhood episodic syndromes have been described as common precursors of migraine.

Objective

To review current knowledge on migraine and childhood episodic syndromes, and to discuss future directions for research and clinical practice.

Findings

For most children it is difficult to describe a headache and fully verbalize symptoms such as photophobia and phonophobia that must be inferred from behaviour. Classical migraine features are rare before the age of 6 years, but some migraine-related syndromes have been described. Benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, cyclic vomiting syndrome and abdominal migraine are currently classified as childhood episodic syndromes, and therefore common precursors of migraine. A strong association between infantile colic and migraine has recently been reported. There are similarities between children with episodic syndromes and children with migraine, regarding social and demographic factors, precipitating and relieving factors, and accompanying gastrointestinal, neurologic, and vasomotor features. The real pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine are not fully understood. Current data obtained through molecular and functional studies provide a complex model in which vascular and neurologic events cooperate in the pathogenesis of migraine attacks. Genetic factors causing disturbances in neuronal ion channels, make a migraineur more sensitive to multiple trigger factors that activate the nociception cascade. The expanding knowledge on migraine genetics and pathophysiology may be applicable to childhood episodic syndromes. Migraine preventive strategies are particularly important in children, and could be beneficial in childhood episodic syndromes. Nonspecific analgesics like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are widely used in pediatrics to control pain and have been found to be effective also in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Triptans are the specific fist-line drugs for acute migraine treatment.

Conclusions and relevance

Migraine phenotype differs somewhat in the developing brain, and childhood episodic syndromes may arise before typical migraine headache. Diagnosing pediatric migraine may be difficult because of children’s language and cognitive abilities. The risk of underestimating migraine in pediatric age is high. An adequate diagnosis is important to maintain a good quality of life and to avoid inappropriate therapy.

Headache prevalence and related symptoms, family history, and treatment habits in a representative population of children in Alba, Italy

BACKGROUND

Headache is a widespread disorder in children, but little is known about the headache prevalence in northwest Italy, on less frequent migraine equivalents, family history, and treatment habits in children.

METHOD

This is an epidemiologic population-based study of a representative sample of children aged 3 to 11 years, conducted in Alba, Italy. We used a self-administered questionnaire to acquire information on gender, age, headache, possible migraine equivalents, family history for various diseases, and treatment habits.

RESULTS

We distributed the questionnaire to 1152 children, and a total of 649 questionnaires were successfully completed. In the preschool age, 10.3% (seven boys and nine girls) of children suffered from headache. In school-age children, the prevalence of headache was 31.4% (75 boys and 80 girls; 27% in 6 year olds and 41% at age 9 years). We found a significant correlation between headache and abdominal pain in the entire sample and with cyclic vomiting syndrome and dizziness in school-age children only. Headache correlated significantly with a family history of headache, thyroid diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and vascular diseases. Headache was treated with drugs, primarily paracetamol, in 60 of the 171 (35%) children who reported headache and in 61% of the children with migraine; no subjects were treated with triptans.

CONCLUSIONS

Headache is widespread in children, with a high prevalence of associated symptoms and family history for many other headache-related disorders.

Cognitive processing styles of children and adolescents with headache and back pain: a longitudinal epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

Previous research has shown positive relationships between dysfunctional cognitive styles and different aspects of pain (eg, pain frequency). One goal of our longitudinal study was to investigate potential risk factors for the incidence of headache (HA) and back pain (BP).

METHODS

In the first wave (2003), questionnaires were sent to 6,400 children between the ages of 9 and 14 years. Those who answered in wave 1 were contacted again every year (four survey waves in total: 2003-2006). The data presented are based on the children's self-reports in the second wave (2004) and third wave (2005). Potential risk factors (dysfunctional stress coping, pain catastrophizing, anxiety sensitivity, and somatosensory amplification) were collected in wave 2. Binary logistic regression analyses - for boys and girls - were performed to assess the predictive value of the risk factors for HA and BP in wave 3.

RESULTS

In the comprehensive model, none of the examined variables predicted the incidence of HA. Anxiety sensitivity increased the risk that boys would report BP after 1 year by 50% and dysfunctional stress coping increased the risk by 40%. For girls, somatosensory amplification increased the risk of the incidence of BP 1 year later by 80%, whereas pain catastrophizing reduced the risk by 50%.

CONCLUSION

In this incidence sample, the amount of variance explained by the psychological variables investigated was very small. Integrating this result with existing findings from cross-sectional studies suggests that dysfunctional cognitive processing styles may develop more as a consequence or a concomitant feature of BP or HA, but play a less important role in its initial development.

High diagnostic stability of confirmed migraine and confirmed tension-type headache according to the ICHD-3 beta in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Stable headache diagnosis classification is a prerequisite for identification of headache type specific risk factors. Does the stability of a headache diagnosis over time vary between migraine and tension-type headache (TTH)? Are there differences in diagnosis stability between a probable and a definite headache diagnosis?

FINDINGS

In a sample of 783 students (ages 12 to 18 years) participating in a headache intervention study in greater Munich, the stability of headache classification according to the International Classification of Headache Disorder - third edition (beta version) (ICHD-3 beta) after a follow-up of 7 months was examined. Differences in stability of probable or definite migraine and probable or definite TTH were assessed. The stability of the headache diagnosis was assessed as predictive value of headache diagnosis with regard to confirmation of the headache type using the same diagnostic instrument 7 months later. Predictive values with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.Of students with initial migraine, a diagnosis of migraine was confirmed in 65.71% of students after 7 months (95%-CI [59.40-71.64]). A clear distinction between probable (44.71%, 95%-CI [33.91-53.89]) and confirmed diagnosis (76.88% 95%-CI [69.56-83.17]) of migraine was observed. For TTH the predictive value was 62.66% (95%-CI [57.07-68.01]) overall with a lower stability for probable (46.10%, 95%-CI [37.68-54.69]) compared to the confirmed diagnosis (69.71%, 95%-CI [23.58-37.67]).

CONCLUSION

While confirmed migraine and confirmed TTH diagnoses seem stable over time, stability of a probable diagnosis for either headache type was lower.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was registered at the German Clinical Trial Register with the ID DRKS00003308.

Psychological interventions for chronic pediatric pain: state of the art, current developments and open questions

SUMMARY Chronic pain, especially headache and recurrent abdominal pain, affects a sizable number of children and adolescents. In this selective overview, the need and rationale for psychological approaches to the treatment of chronic pediatric pain will be explored, and current developments and open questions will be addressed. Thus far, research has mostly focused on the efficacy of various psychological interventions such as relaxation, biofeedback and cognitive-behavioral interventions, specifically for headaches and recurrent abdominal pain. Yet, the differential efficacy of the various psychological interventions still awaits empirical evaluation. In fact, in the past decade, the focus of research has shifted more towards developing and evaluating treatment formats that target specific subgroups of patients, such as multimodal inpatient treatment programs for severely affected youth. On the other hand, much research has been devoted to self-help treatment formats such as internet-based intervention programs. Rather surprisingly, the role of parents in the treatment of chronic pediatric pain is far from being understood, which may be best accounted for by the fact that psychological interventions were mostly adapted from treatment programs in adults rather than being specifically developed for children and adolescents. Conclusions for clinical practice and research are outlined.

The evolution of headache from childhood to adulthood: a review of the literature

Headache is one of the most common disorders in childhood, with an estimated 75% of children reporting significant headache by the age of 15 years. Pediatric migraine is the most frequent recurrent headache disorder, occurring in up to 28% of older teenagers. Headaches rank third among the illness-related causes of school absenteeism and result in substantial psychosocial impairment among pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the evolution of the clinical features of primary headache in the transition from childhood to adulthood through a review of relevant data available in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for the period 1988 to July 2013.The search strategy identified 15 published articles which were considered eligible for inclusion in the analysis (i.e., relevant to the investigation of pediatric headache outcome). All were carried out after the publication of the first version of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-I). The availability of data on the evolution of primary headaches over a period of time is important from both a clinical and a public health perspective. The identification of prognostic factors of the evolution of headache (remission or evolution into another headache form) over time should be an objective of future headache research for the development of prevention strategies. Given that headache is a major factor contributing to school absenteeism and poorer quality of life not only in childhood but also in adolescence, understanding the natural history and the management of the different headache forms is vital for our future.

Sex-specific predictor analyses for the incidence of recurrent headaches in German schoolchildren

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify psychosocial risk factors for the incidence of recurrent headache (HA) in children/adolescents (8–15 years).

Method: In 2003 (Wave 1) a representative, population-based sample of 8800 parents was mailed a questionnaire. Those who took part were asked to participate again one year later (Wave 2). Of the parents originally contacted, 47.3% participated in both surveys. Potential risk factors concerning the areas ‘school’ and ‘emotional and behavioural problems’ were collected in Wave 1. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to assess their predictive value for HA in Wave 2.

Results: Univariable regression analyses showed that for boys and girls most of the predictor variables influenced the incidence of recurrent HA, but only to a very low extent. When all variables were assessed jointly in a multivariable model, these factors lost their predictive power for boys. For girls, ‘academic problems’ and ‘dysfunctional stress coping’ were shown to increase the chance for the incidence of recurrent HA.

Discussion: In contrast to previous findings, school-related factors and emotional and behavioural problems failed to predict HA in boys, and only two factors appeared relevant with regard to girls. This might be due to the strict unidirectional design, which focussed exclusively on the incidence of HA.

Perceived teacher unfairness and headache in adolescence: a cross-national comparison

OBJECTIVES: The present study examines the prevalence of headache in early adolescents in 21 European and North-American countries and the role of perceived teacher unfairness in predicting this health complaint across different countries. METHODS: Data were taken from the "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children" study (HBSC), a World Health Organization cross-national survey on health behaviors in 11-, 13- and 15-year-old students. Headache and perceived teacher unfairness were measured through a self-administered questionnaire filled out by 115,212 adolescents. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of frequent headaches (at least once a week) was 28.8%, ranging from 18.9% in Slovenia to 49.4% in Israel. After adjusting for gender, grade, family affluence, school achievement, being bullied and lifestyles (drinking, smoking, eating and physical activity), teacher unfairness showed a significant association with frequent headache in all but two countries (Ukraine and Luxembourg). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that headache is a common health symptom in European and North-American countries, even though there are substantial differences in its prevalence across countries. The study indicates that perceived teacher unfairness can be a significant predictor of frequent headache during adolescence, and this association is consistent across countries.

Headache in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years in northern Italy: prevalence and risk factors

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this study is to examine the epidemiology of paediatric headache and periodic syndromes in a school population and to evaluate the co-existence of environmental predisposing conditions.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A 60-item questionnaire was completed by a school-based sample (n = 1536, ages 6-18 years). Diagnostic assessment of primary headache and periodic syndromes was established in first section; predisposing conditions in the second section; while the third section quantified the frequency of self medication and identified drugs most frequently used.

RESULTS

Headache was reported by 62.1% of subjects. Socioeconomic status, composition of family unit and nutrition habits in the first year of life did not appear significantly different in subjects with headache compared to healthy controls. A good sleep quality was found in 95.2% of healthy controls, in 89.4% of children with occasional headache. Recurrent abdominal pain, motor weakness and car sickness was significantly higher in primary headache group compared to occasional headache. Depressive/anxious traits were significantly higher in primary headache and occasional headache groups than in healthy controls. The frequency of aggressive traits was also higher in children with primary headache compared to occasional headache and healthy control subjects. 72.5% of subjects with primary headache and 58.4% of children with occasional headache assumed medicines to relieve pain. Paracetamol was the most frequently assumed drug.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show a more frequent occurrence of anxious/depressive profile in children suffering from primary headache. In agreement with literature data, this research points out that self-treatment is a relevant problem in paediatric headache.

Migraine in junior high-school students: A prospective 3-academic-year cohort study

Migraine is a common childhood illness with expected favorable outcome. A study of the long-term clinical course of childhood migraine will provide information of evolution of migraine. A cohort study for 3-academic-year was conducted in Thai junior high-school children from July 2005 to February 2008 to determine the clinical course of migraine. Two hundred and forty-eight students in four junior high schools diagnosed with migraine according to ICHD-II in July 2005 were recruited. Each student was serially evaluated twice yearly from 7th grade during each semester of the academic year until the second semester of 9th grade. Determination of the characteristics, severity, frequency, and treatment of headache were obtained by questionnaire and direct interview. At the final evaluation, clinical course of headache was categorized into seven patterns. Among enrolled students, 209 (84.3%) completed the study. Twenty-eight (13.5%) students had no recurrent headache while that of 153 (73.5%) improved. No improvement of migraine and worsened migraine were observed in four students (1.8%) and 24 students (11.2%), respectively. Spontaneous remission and avoidance of precipitating causes contributed to relief of migraine in the majority of the students. Stress-related daily school activities and inadequate rest were reported as common precipitating factors among students with non-improving or worsening outcome. Chronic daily headache and tension-type headache was observed in 6 and 30 students, respectively. This study confirms that clinical course of migraine in schoolchildren is benign. Frequency and intensity of headache can be reduced with reassurance and appropriate guidance. Early recognition and appropriate prevention of migraine attack will decrease the risk of chronic migraine and disease burden.

Course of adolescent headache: 4-year annual face-to-face follow-up study

The objective of this study is to investigate the course of the diagnosis and characteristics of headache in 12- to 17-year-old adolescents during a follow-up period of 4 years. Headache prevalence and characteristics, and even the type of headache show important changes during adolescence. The course of adolescent headache might reveal important insight into the pathophysiology of headache. Subjects who received a single headache diagnosis were invited to participate in a follow-up study consisting of annual face-to-face evaluation of the subjects for 4 years. Subjects who had only one type of headache and who agreed to participate were included in the study. Each subject had four annual semi-structured interviews with a neurology resident. The International Classification of Headache Disorders second edition was used for case definitions. A total of 87 subjects completed the study: 64 girls (73.56%) and 23 boys (26.44%) (p = 0.016). The headache type included migraine in 50 adolescents (57.47%), tension type headache in 24 (27.59%), secondary headache in 5 (5.7%), and non-classifiable headache in 8 (9.2%). Headache has not remitted in any of the subjects. Headache diagnosis has changed in eighteen (20.69%) subjects at least once during the follow-up period. There was transformation of headache type in 4 of 50 with migraine (8%), 10 of 24 with tension-type headache (TTH) (41.7%), and 4 of 13 with other headaches (30.8%). In conclusion, transition of headache types from one type to another (more than once in some adolescents) and variability of diagnosis throughout the years strongly support the continuum theory of headaches.

Headache disability among adolescents: a student population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the extent and to identify the relevant predictors of headache disabilities in adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Headaches are common in adolescents but their impact and related factors have not been extensively studied in adolescent communities.

METHOD

We recruited and surveyed 3963 students aged 13-15 from 3 middle schools using self-administered questionnaires. The questionnaires were used to make 3 assessments: (1) headaches were diagnosed using a validated headache questionnaire; (2) headache disabilities were evaluated using the 6-question Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment; (3) depression was measured using the Adolescent Depression Inventory.

RESULTS

The student response rate was 93%. In total, 484 students (12.2%) had migraines with or without auras, 444 (11.2%) had probable migraines, and 1092 (27.6%) had tension-type headaches. The students with migraine had the highest Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment scores (10.7 +/- 20.0); whereas, the students with tension-type headaches had the lowest scores (2.0 +/- 4.4). Logistic regression analyses indicated that there were a number of independent predictors for moderate to severe headache-related disability (Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment score > or =31), including a migraine or probable migraine diagnosis, a higher depression score, severe headache intensity, and frequent headaches.

CONCLUSIONS

The Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment provides a simple tool to measure the impact of headaches in adolescents. Adolescents with migraine headaches suffered the greatest level of disability. Higher depression scores were associated with more severe headache-related disabilities in adolescents, independent of headache frequency and severity.

Risk factors for headache in children

BACKGROUND

10% to 30% of all children worldwide suffer from headaches at least once a week, potentially constituting a serious health problem that may lead to impairment in multiple areas. Therefore, one aim of the epidemiological longitudinal study "Children, Adolescents, and Headache" (KiJuKo) is the study of potential risk factors for the development of recurrent headaches.

METHODS

In the first survey (2003), questionnaires were sent to 8800 households with a child between 7 and 14 years of age. Three further surveys followed, one each year from 2004 to 2006. A number of predictors having to do with family characteristics and leisure activities were identified on the basis of the first survey and were then studied in the second survey (n = 2952) with respect to their influence on the new occurrence of headaches.

RESULTS

The risk of developing recurrent headaches between the first and the second survey was elevated by a factor of approximately 1.8 for boys who experienced quarrels in the family more than once per week, and by a factor of 2.1 for boys who only "sometimes" had free time for themselves. The risk of developing recurrent headaches was 25% higher in girls whose parents' behavior towards the child positively or negatively reinforced the occurrence of headaches.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are in accordance with those of other studies showing that, for boys, the frequency of quarreling in the family and the extent of leisure time are major factors in the development of recurrent headaches. For girls, the manner in which the parents respond to the child's headache seems to be important.