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Changes in headache prevalence between pre-school and pre-pubertal ages
R Virtanen1, M Aromaa, P Rautava
1Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Finland. ruut.virtanen@utu.fi
Insights
Headache prevalence in children increased with age, with maternal frequent headaches significantly linked to increased headache occurrence in boys. Family history and chronic illness also correlated with childhood headaches.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Family Medicine
Background:
- Headache is a common childhood ailment with varying prevalence rates.
- Understanding the developmental trajectory and familial risk factors for childhood headache is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of headache in first-born children at ages 6 and 12.
- To investigate the association between familial headache history, chronic illness, and headache occurrence in children.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving over 1000 families.
- Headache questionnaires administered to families when children were 6 and 12 years old.
- Analysis of prevalence rates and associations with familial factors.
Main Results:
- Headache prevalence increased from 19% at age 6 to 31% at age 12 (previous headache).
- Present headache prevalence was 16% at age 6 and 19% at age 12.
- Maternal frequent headaches were associated with increased headache prevalence in boys (ages 6-12).
- Frequent headaches in mothers, fathers, siblings, and chronic illness were associated with headaches in 12-year-olds.
Conclusions:
- Childhood headache prevalence increases significantly between ages 6 and 12.
- Familial factors, including maternal and sibling headache history, and chronic illness, are significant risk factors for childhood headache.
Abstract:
The prevalence rates of headache in first-born children were determined at the ages of 6 and 12 years in over 1000 families. A headache questionnaire was mailed to 1132 families when the children were 6 years old, and to 1126 families when the children were 12 years old. Seven hundred and ninety-eight families responded to both questionnaires. The prevalence of headache before the 6 months preceding the questionnaire ('previous headache') was 19% when the children were 6 years of age and 31% when the children were 12 years of age. The corresponding prevalences of headache during the 6 months immediately proceeding the questionnaire ('present headache') were 16% and 19%. Variation in occurrence of headache was high during follow-up years. Maternal frequent headache (> or = 1/month) was significantly associated with the increase in prevalence of present headache in boys between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Frequent headache in mothers, fathers and siblings, and the occurrence of chronic illness, were also significantly associated with headache in the 12-year-old children.