'Other' headache syndromes in children

Premonitory Symptoms in Episodic and Chronic Migraine From a Pediatric Headache Clinic

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the frequency of six commonly reported adult migraine premonitory symptoms in children and adolescents with episodic and chronic migraine and elicited psychological or behavioral comorbidities that may be associated with these symptoms.

BACKGROUND

Premonitory symptoms are commonly reported in the adult migraine population; however, little information is available for the pediatric population.

METHODS

Data were collected on new patients being evaluated in our multidisciplinary pediatric headache clinic over a six-month time interval. The data collected from patients diagnosed with migraine were then reviewed for the following premonitory symptoms: yawning, neck stiffness, fatigue, increased urination, mood changes, and food cravings. History was obtained regarding the frequency of headaches and other associated behavioral or psychological problems.

RESULTS

A total of 176 patients were enrolled over a six-month interval, ranging in age from four to 18 years (mean age 12 years); 64% were female, and 42% (74 of 176) of the subjects had at least one premonitory symptom. Patients with migraine with aura were noted to have a significantly higher association with premonitory symptoms (59%, 30 of 51) (P < 0.05). Anxiety disorder was also significantly associated with premonitory symptoms (55%, 11 of 20) (P < 0.05). Fatigue and mood changes were the most commonly reported premonitory symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Premonitory symptoms occurred frequently in our population of pediatric patients with migraine. Fatigue and mood changes were the most frequent symptoms. There were no significant differences in premonitory symptoms by gender or age group (less than 12 years versus greater than 12 years). Anxiety and migraine with aura were correlated with an increased likelihood of premonitory symptoms.

Childhood Headache: A Brief Review

Headaches are common in childhood and adolescence and can cause significant distress and disability for a child and their family. Providers need to be able to identify "red flags" for worrisome causes of secondary headaches and recognize typical primary headache characteristics to provide each patient with the best possible care to improve their quality of life and minimize disability. This article reviews the epidemiology of headaches in children, signs and symptoms of secondary headaches, definitions of some primary childhood headaches, and options for management of both acute and chronic pediatric migraine. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(4):e155-e165.].