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Pharmacological and behavioral treatment of pediatric migraine and tension-type headache
1Regional Centre for the Diagnosis and Cure of Headache and Craniofacial Pain, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Pediatric headache treatments include medications and behavioral therapies like biofeedback. Biofeedback offers an effective, drug-free alternative for children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric headache management often mirrors adult treatments, using smaller dosages and varied combinations.
- Pharmacological interventions carry potential side effects in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common pharmacological therapies for pediatric migraine and tension-type headaches.
- To discuss behavioral therapies, specifically biofeedback, as alternatives to drug treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pharmacological and behavioral interventions for pediatric headaches.
- Analysis of the efficacy and safety of biofeedback in pediatric headache management.
Main Results:
- Pharmacological treatments are frequently used but may have side effects.
- Biofeedback has emerged as an effective non-pharmacological option.
- Behavioral therapies offer a promising alternative to medication for children's headaches.
Conclusions:
- Biofeedback presents a viable and safe alternative to pharmacological treatments for pediatric headaches.
- Further research into optimizing behavioral interventions for children is warranted.
Abstract:
The problem concerning the treatment of pediatric headache has been the object of several recent reports. Some of the same medications used to treat adult headache problems are also utilized with children but usually at smaller dosages and in different combinations. The recent application of behavioral approaches, in particular biofeedback, for treatment of children's headaches has been an effective alternative to drugs without the problematic and dangerous side effects of pharmacological treatments. The purpose of this review is to give some indications about the most common pharmacological therapies for migraine and tension-type headache in children, and also to discuss the use of behavioral therapies, in particular biofeedback, as excellent alternatives to drugs.
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