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Prevalence of red ear syndrome in juvenile primary headaches

V Raieli1, A Compagno, F Brighina

  • 1U.O. di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, P.O. G. Di Cristina, Palermo, Italy. vinzi.raielk@inwind.it

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|December 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Red ear syndrome (RES) is a highly specific indicator of pediatric migraine, often linked to shared trigeminal-autonomic reflex pathways. This finding aids in diagnosing migraine in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Previous research suggests a link between red ear syndrome (RES) and pediatric migraine.
  • The study aimed to evaluate RES frequency, specificity, and sensitivity in pediatric migraineurs.
  • Investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of RES in migraine was also a key objective.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency, specificity, and sensitivity of red ear syndrome (RES) in children with migraine.
  • To explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the association between RES and migraine in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • 226 children (aged 4-17) with headaches were enrolled.
  • Migraine diagnosis was confirmed in 172 children (76.4%).
  • Statistical analysis, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression, was performed to identify associations.

Main Results:

  • Red ear syndrome (RES) occurred in 23.3% of migraine patients, significantly more often than in other headache types (p < .0001).
  • RES demonstrated high specificity (96.3%) and positive predictive value (95.3%) for pediatric migraine.
  • Associations were found between RES and male gender, throbbing pain, vomiting, and phonophobia, with male gender, throbbing pain, and vomiting confirmed by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Red ear syndrome (RES) serves as a highly specific diagnostic sign for migraine in children.
  • The association of RES with migraine features suggests a shared pathophysiological background, potentially involving the trigeminal-autonomic reflex.
Abstract

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