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Epilepsy and migraine headache: is there a connection?

Sharon B Stevenson1

  • 1Arkansas Children's Hospital, 800 Marshall St, Slot #512-15, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA. stevensonsharon@uams.edu

Journal of Pediatric Health Care : Official Publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
|May 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric epilepsy patients show a higher prevalence of migraine headaches compared to the general population. A family history of epilepsy is more common than a family history of migraine in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Epilepsy and migraine are common neurological disorders in children.
  • Investigating comorbidities like migraine in pediatric epilepsy is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of migraine headaches in pediatric patients diagnosed with epilepsy.
  • To examine the incidence of family history of both epilepsy and migraine in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 475 pediatric epilepsy patients.
  • Data collection included demographics, headache, migraine, and family history of neurological disorders.
  • Patients were identified via ICD-9-CM codes from a major teaching hospital's pediatric neurology clinic.

Main Results:

  • Migraine prevalence in pediatric epilepsy patients was 14.7%, significantly higher than the general population (2.7%-11%).
  • A positive family history of epilepsy was found in 20.6% of patients.
  • Only 4.7% of patients reported a family history of migraine.

Conclusions:

  • The findings highlight a significant comorbidity between epilepsy and migraine in children.
  • A positive family history of epilepsy supports genetic links in some epilepsy cases.
  • Clinicians should consider screening for coexisting disorders when diagnosing primary conditions in pediatric neurology.
Abstract

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