Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
[Diagnostic procedures in pediatric migraine]
Vlasta Duranović1, Vlatka Mejaski Bosnjak, Lucija Lujić
1Klinika za pedijatriju, Klinika za djecje bolesti Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska. vlasta.duranovic@kdb.hr
Insights
Diagnosing pediatric migraine relies on history and neurological exams. Advanced imaging and tests are crucial for differentiating primary migraine from secondary headaches in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Diagnostic Medicine
Context:
- Pediatric migraine diagnosis traditionally relies on clinical evaluation.
- Differentiating primary migraine from secondary headaches in children presents diagnostic challenges.
- Comprehensive patient history and physical examination are foundational.
Purpose:
- To outline the diagnostic standards for pediatric migraine.
- To emphasize the importance of detailed clinical and neurological assessments.
- To highlight the role of advanced diagnostic tools in complex cases.
Summary:
- The gold standard for diagnosing pediatric migraine involves personal history, clinical, and neurological examinations.
- Headache diaries and interviews provide crucial data on morbidity and psychosocial status.
- While acute headaches without neurological signs suggest migraine, secondary causes necessitate thorough investigation.
- Diagnostic protocols include neuroimaging (CT, MRI), EEG, Doppler, lab tests, and toxicology screening.
- Neuroimaging is specifically indicated for children with concerning symptoms like vomiting, neurological deficits, or developmental changes.
Impact:
- Improves accuracy in diagnosing childhood migraine.
- Guides clinicians in selecting appropriate diagnostic pathways.
- Facilitates timely and correct identification of serious secondary headache causes.
- Enhances patient management by distinguishing migraine from other neurological conditions.
Abstract:
The "gold standard" in the diagnosis of pediatric migraine includes personal history, clinical and neurological examination. Many important data on previous morbidity, psychosocial status and recent sickness (today's headache) can be found by using an interview, "face to face", or by "headache diary". On clinical examination, it is important to pay due attention to cardiovascular and respiratory systems as well as to examination of the skin. Thorough neurological examination may reveal disturbances of the mental status, cranial nerves, motor and sensory systems, reflexes, coordination and visual status. Acute headache without febrile illness and neurological disturbances is very indicative on childhood migraine or "migraine variants". However, due to many secondary headaches with migraine-like symptoms, it is important to perform detailed diagnostic protocol including computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, transcranial color doppler, laboratory tests and toxicological screening. Neuroimaging is indicated in children with acute headache, chronic progressive headache, especially if associated with vomiting, nausea or neurological disturbances, papillary edema, and in children with personality changes, learning difficulties and those under five years of age.
