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Hypnic headache in children

Caterina Cerminara1, Eliana Compagnone, Antonella Coniglio

  • 1University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|October 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hypnic headache (HH), a rare sleep-related headache typically seen in older adults, was observed in three children. These pediatric cases suggest HH may occur in younger individuals, potentially requiring updated diagnostic criteria.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Hypnic headache (HH) is a rare disorder characterized by sleep-exclusive headaches, typically affecting the elderly.
  • Current diagnostic criteria (ICHD-II) define HH by specific features like nocturnal onset, duration, frequency, and absence of autonomic symptoms.

Observation:

  • This report details three pediatric cases presenting with features consistent with hypnic headache.
  • The patients, aged 7–11 years, experienced nocturnal headaches with short duration and lacked autonomic symptoms.

Findings:

  • The observed cases in children suggest that hypnic headache may manifest in younger populations.
  • The clinical presentation in these pediatric patients aligns with established HH characteristics, despite the age difference.

Implications:

  • These findings challenge the traditional view of HH as solely an elderly disorder.
  • The cases highlight the need to consider HH in the differential diagnosis of headaches in children.
  • Further research may lead to revisions in the diagnostic criteria for hypnic headache, particularly for pediatric age groups.
Abstract

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