Management of Primary Headache in the Emergency Department and Inpatient Headache Unit

Migraine is a chronic disorder with debilitating exacerbations throughout the lifetime of migraineurs. Children and adolescents are significantly affected. The prevalence of migraine in this age group is higher than predicted in the last decade. Fortunately, this chronic disease is getting more attention and recognition, and better treatments are now being offered to these patients. Different medications are available, mostly for the outpatient management of an attack and include the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications as well as prescribed medications like the triptans group. These therapies do sometime fail and the exacerbations can last days to weeks. Early aggressive intravenous treatment can be very effective in breaking the attack and allowing the child to be functional faster and sometimes may prevent chronification of an attack.