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Secondary headache in children

M E Celle1, V Carelli, S Fornarino

  • 1O. U. Neuropsychiatry, University of Genoa, G. Gaslini Institute, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16148, Genoa-Quarto, Italy. mariacelle@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|May 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric headaches often stem from common issues like infections or minor head trauma. Serious causes, though rare, require prompt recognition of specific neurological signs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Headache is a frequent pediatric complaint.
  • Initial assessment focuses on identifying secondary causes.
  • Most pediatric secondary headaches are non-life-threatening.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the differential diagnosis of acute headaches in children and adolescents.
  • To highlight key indicators of serious intracranial pathology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pediatric headache presentations.
  • Analysis of common and critical secondary headache etiologies.

Main Results:

  • Respiratory infections and minor head trauma are the most common causes.
  • Meningitis is the most frequent serious neurological cause.
  • Life-threatening intracranial conditions often present with specific neurological signs and headache characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Differentiating common headaches from serious causes is crucial in pediatric patients.
  • Specific clinical features can suggest intracranial emergencies, aiding timely diagnosis and management.

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