Primary headaches in children under the age of 7 years

Ishaq Abu-Arafeh1, Rachel Howells

  • 1Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow and Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Larbert, UK, iabu-arafeh@nhs.net.

Insights

Recurrent headaches are common in young children, with migraine and tension-type headaches being prevalent. This review offers guidance on assessing and managing these primary headache disorders in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Headache Medicine

Background:

  • Recurrent headaches are increasingly diagnosed in young children.
  • Migraine and tension-type headaches are common primary headache disorders in this age group.
  • Headaches in young children are often 'unclassifiable' due to challenges in history taking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review prevalent primary headache types in young children.
  • To provide advice on focused headache assessment for pediatric patients.
  • To offer guidance on the management of primary headaches in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent epidemiological data on pediatric headaches.
  • Synthesis of clinical experience with primary headache disorders in children.
  • Guidance development based on current understanding of pediatric headache assessment and management.

Main Results:

  • Highlights common primary headache types in young children.
  • Emphasizes the diagnostic challenges and 'unclassifiable' nature of headaches in this population.
  • Presents strategies for focused headache assessment and management.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate assessment and timely management are crucial for pediatric headaches.
  • Understanding prevalent headache types aids in diagnosis and treatment.
  • Further research may improve classification and management of headaches in young children.

Related Concept Videos

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction01:14

Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction

Intracranial hypertension is a sustained elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) above 22 mm Hg. In supine adults, normal ICP is ~7–15 mm Hg.The rigid, nonexpandable cranium contains three components—brain tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—that total ~1,700 mL in a typical adult: 1,400 mL brain (~80%), 150 mL blood (~10%), and 150 mL CSF (~10%). According to the Monro–Kellie doctrine, total intracranial volume is effectively fixed. When one component...
27
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
15
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
410
Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
1.0K
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins...
20
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
967