[Migraine in childhood]

In childhood and adolescence, migraine is the main primary headache. This diagnosis is largely underestimated and misdiagnosed in the pediatric population. Because of the lack of specific biologic markers, specific investigation tools or brain imaging techniques, these clinical entities are too often considered to be a psychological illness. Migraine is a severe headache evolving by stereotyped attacks associated with marked digestive symptoms (nausea and vomiting); throbbing pain and sensitivity to sound or light are common symptoms; the attack is sometimes preceded by a visual or sensory aura. During attacks, pain intensity is severe; most of the children have to lie down. Abdominal pain is frequently associated, rest brings relief and sleep often ends the attack. The prevalence of migraine varies between 5 percent and 10 percent in childhood. In children, the duration of the headache is quite often shorter than in adults; it is more often frontal and bilateral (2/3 of cases) than one-sided. Migraine is a disabling illness: children with migraine miss more school days in a school year than their matched controls. Migraine episodes are frequently triggered by several factors: emotional stress (school pressure, vexation, excitement: upset), hypoglycemia, lack of sleep or excess (week end migraine), sensorial stimulation (loud noise, bright light, strong odor, heat or cold...), sympathetic stimulation (sports, physical exercise). Treatment must be given early at onset of attacks; oral ibuprofen (10 mg/kg) is recommended. If the oral route in not available because of nausea or vomiting, the rectal or nasal routes can be used. Triptan can be prescribed (body weight above 30 kg) when NSAID (prescribed at right dose and time) fail to abort the attack. Non-drug treatments (relaxation training, self hypnosis, biofeedback) have shown to have good efficacy as prophylactic measures. Daily prophylactic drug treatments are prescribed in second line after failure of non-drug treatment.