Prevalence and characteristics of migraine among adolescents: a questionnaire survey

A screening questionnaire was distributed to 1000 boys and 1000 girls, studying in classes VI to X (11 to 15 years) in two public schools of Jaipur. Questionnaire A consisted of a single question to parents. "Does your child suffer from recurrent headache?" To those who responded in the affirmative, a detailed questionnaire (B) was distributed Questionnaire B consisted of twenty questions pertaining to characteristics and associations of headache. From questionnaire B a diagnosis of common migraine was made according to IHS criteria (1988). The prevalence of recurrent headache was found to be 18% in boys and 21% in girls, while the prevalence of migraine was 9% in boys and 14% in girls. Among the other causes of recurrent headache tension type headache was seen in 3.6%, eye problems in 0.389% sinusitis in 0.22%, and undetermined etiology in 2.14% children. The clinical characteristics of migraine are described.