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Headache activity in children and adolescents
1Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Most Australian youth experience headaches, with girls reporting them more often than boys. Common symptoms resemble migraines and muscle-contraction headaches, with medication being the most frequent coping strategy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Adolescent health
- Psychology of pain
Background:
- Headaches are a common health concern in children and adolescents.
- Understanding headache patterns in youth is crucial for effective management.
- Previous research has explored headache prevalence but with varying methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate headache activity in a large cohort of Australian youth.
- To examine headache prevalence, duration, severity, symptoms, and triggers.
- To explore children's self-statements and coping mechanisms during headaches.
Main Methods:
- A self-report questionnaire was administered to 900 Australian youth aged 10-18.
- Data collected included headache frequency, duration, severity, and symptomatology.
- Self-statements and coping responses, including medication use, were also assessed.
Main Results:
- Headaches were prevalent in the majority of the surveyed youth.
- Girls reported a higher frequency of headaches compared to boys.
- Symptoms commonly aligned with muscle-contraction headache and migraine; medication was the most frequent coping strategy.
Conclusions:
- Headaches significantly impact Australian youth, with notable gender differences in prevalence.
- The symptomatology suggests a combination of headache types.
- Self-report data and cross-sectional design present methodological limitations for future research.