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Headaches in children and adolescents
1Section of Pediatric Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
|December 20, 1999
Summary
Pediatric headaches require careful history taking, examination, and psychosocial evaluation for accurate diagnosis. Most cases do not need lab tests, focusing instead on tailored interventions for improvement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Headaches are a prevalent issue in pediatric populations.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a diagnostic and management approach for headaches in children and adolescents.
- To emphasize the role of clinical evaluation and psychosocial factors.
Main Methods:
- Detailed patient history and physical examination.
- Neurologic evaluation with temporal pattern charting.
- Assessment of psychosocial factors.
- Selective laboratory testing based on headache syndrome.
Main Results:
- A comprehensive clinical approach facilitates correct headache diagnosis.
- Psychosocial factors significantly influence all headache types in children.
- Laboratory testing is often unnecessary and should be judiciously applied.
Conclusions:
- A thorough evaluation, including psychosocial aspects, is key to diagnosing pediatric headaches.
- Medical and psychological interventions lead to improved outcomes.
- Tailored management strategies are essential for effective headache treatment.