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[Cluster headache in a 3 year old child]
1Interna Complementar de Pediatria; Hospital Geral de Santo António, Porto, 4000, Portugal. mergdoc@yahoo.com
Insights
Cluster headache is a rare neurological disorder affecting children, with genetic links suggested. Early onset cluster headache in a five-year-old highlights the need for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Cluster headache is a rare neurological disorder, particularly in childhood.
- Literature review identified 64 pediatric cases, with only 17 starting before age 10.
- Recent research suggests a genetic component with autosomal dominant transmission in some families.
Observation:
- Presents a clinical case of a five-year-old child experiencing cluster headaches since age three.
- This case underscores the possibility of early-onset cluster headaches in pediatric patients.
- The International Headache Society criteria were met for all reviewed cases.
Findings:
- Cluster headache in children is uncommon but documented.
- Genetic factors may play a role in cluster headache inheritance.
- Autosomal dominant transmission is indicated in familial cases.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering cluster headache in pediatric differential diagnoses.
- Emphasizes the need for further research into the genetic basis of pediatric cluster headache.
- Suggests potential for targeted therapies based on genetic understanding.
Introduction:
Cluster headache is a rare disorder in childhood. We identified, in the literature, 64 cases of cluster headache starting at or before 18 years (only 17 of them began before 10 years old). All patients met the criteria of the International Headache Society. Russell et al demonstrated recently that the cluster headache is an inherited disorder in some families. They conclude that the gene is present in 3 to 4% of males and 7 to 10% of females with cluster headache and that it has an autossomal dominant transmission.
Clinical Case:
The authors report the clinical case of a five year old child with cluster headache starting at three years. This paper reviews the differential diagnosis and the treatment of cluster headache.