Pediatric Headache: An Overview
Raquel Langdon1, Marc T DiSabella1
1Center for Neurosciences and Behavioral Health, Children׳s National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Insights
Pediatric headache is a common neurologic disorder impacting children. This review details diagnosis and management, including lifestyle changes and medications, for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Headache is the most common neurologic disorder in children.
- It significantly impacts youth through missed school and activities, representing a major cause of morbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a holistic approach to evaluating children with headaches.
- To discuss clinical presentations, classification, and treatment of pediatric headaches.
Main Methods:
- Detailed headache history taking.
- Comprehensive physical and neurologic examinations.
- Diagnostic evaluation based on International Headache Criteria (IHCD-3).
Main Results:
- Discussion of primary and secondary headache types in children.
- Summary of treatment modalities including lifestyle, behavioral, and pharmacologic interventions.
Conclusions:
- A thorough evaluation is crucial for diagnosing pediatric headaches.
- Management involves a combination of lifestyle adjustments, behavioral therapies, and medications.
Abstract:
Headache represents the most common neurologic disorder in the general population including children and is increasingly being recognized as a major source of morbidity in youth related to missed school days and activities. In this article, we take a holistic approach to the child presenting with headache with a focus on the detailed headache history, physical and neurologic examinations, and diagnostic evaluation of these patients. Clinical presentations and classification schema of multiple primary and secondary headache types in children are discussed using the International Headache Criteria (IHCD-3) as a guide, and a summary provided of the various treatment modalities employed for pediatric headache including lifestyle modifications, behavioral techniques, and abortive and preventive medications.
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