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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

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Age- and sex-related differences in the presentation of paediatric migraine: A retrospective cohort study

Sophie Louise Wilcox1, Allison Marra Ludwick1, Alyssa Lebel2

  • 11 Center for Pain and the Brain, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|August 3, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Migraine presentation in children and adolescents differs by age and sex. Key changes include sex ratio shifts, pain characteristics, and co-occurring anxiety, highlighting developmental influences on pediatric migraine.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

  • Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder in children and adolescents.
  • Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding age and sex-specific migraine features in pediatric populations.
  • Understanding developmental influences on migraine presentation is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify how age and sex influence migraine characteristics in pediatric patients.
  • To compare headache features between pre-pubertal children and adolescents.
  • To analyze sex-based differences in migraine presentation across developmental stages.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 359 pediatric patients diagnosed with migraine.
  • Assessment of headache characteristics via structured intake interviews and clinical examinations.
  • Comparative analysis of migraine features based on age (children ≤12 vs. adolescents >12 years) and sex.

Main Results:

  • Migraine sex ratio shifted from 1:1 in children to 2:1 female predominance in adolescents.
  • Adolescents and female migraineurs reported higher monthly headache frequency.
  • Adolescents were more likely to experience throbbing pain, while children reported more nausea/vomiting.
  • Anxiety comorbidity was higher in adolescents, especially females.

Conclusions:

  • Migraine presentation in pediatric populations is significantly influenced by age and sex.
  • Developmental neuroplasticity during childhood and adolescence impacts migraine symptomology.
  • Recognizing these age and sex variations is essential for tailored pediatric migraine care.

Keywords:
Headacheadolescencechildhoodpain quality

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