Profile of children with migraine

Mustafa Aydin1, Nimet Kabakus, Senol Bozdag

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, Turkey. dr1mustafa@hotmail.com

Insights

Migraine is a common cause of headaches in children, impacting school performance. Early diagnosis and preventive treatments are effective for managing pediatric migraine.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder.
  • Understanding its clinical characteristics in children is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical features of pediatric migraine patients.
  • To assess the impact of migraine on school performance and daily activities.
  • To determine the effectiveness of prophylactic treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 76 pediatric patients diagnosed with migraine based on ICHD-II 2004 criteria.
  • Patients categorized into three age groups: 3-6, 7-12, and 13-17 years.
  • Analysis of headache frequency, impact on school performance, family history, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Migraine was the most common cause of headache (57.1%) in the pediatric neurology clinic.
  • Average headache attack rate was 2.5 per week, negatively affecting school performance in 34.2% of patients.
  • A family history of migraine or headache was reported in 71.1% of patients.
  • Prophylactic medications (flunarizine, propranolol, topiramate, sodium valproate) showed high effectiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Migraine is a frequent cause of headaches in children.
  • Pediatric migraine negatively impacts academic and daily functioning.
  • Family history is a significant factor in diagnosing migraine.
  • Prophylactic treatment strategies are highly effective in managing pediatric migraine.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Malaria01:29

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.