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Pattern of Comorbid Headache Among Children with Epilepsy Treated for Neurocysticercosis
Hitesh Bhatia1, Radhamohan Rana1, Riya Goyal1
1Department of Pediatrics, Pt B D Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, 124001, India.
Insights
Headache is common in children with epilepsy due to neurocysticercosis, but migraine is rare. Pediatricians should evaluate headaches in these children, considering migraine.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a significant cause of epilepsy in children globally.
- Comorbidities like headache can impact quality of life in children with epilepsy.
- Understanding headache patterns in children with epilepsy secondary to NCC is crucial for management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the prevalence and characteristics of comorbid headache in children with epilepsy secondary to neurocysticercosis.
- To investigate the relationship between headache and NCC lesion characteristics (activity, number, stage).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 70 children aged 6-14 years with diagnosed NCC and epilepsy.
- Consecutive enrollment over four months.
- Headache diagnosis evaluated against International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-3 criteria.
Main Results:
- Headache was reported by 34.2% of children with epilepsy and NCC.
- Only one child met the criteria for migraine.
- Headache prevalence was similar regardless of NCC lesion activity, number, or stage.
Conclusions:
- Headache is a frequent complaint in children with epilepsy and NCC.
- Migraine is uncommon in this population.
- Pediatricians should evaluate headaches in children with epilepsy and NCC and consider migraine as a potential diagnosis.
Abstract:
The present cross-sectional study was designed to describe the pattern of comorbid headache among children with epilepsy (CWE) secondary to neurocysticercosis (NCC). Children aged 6 to 14 y (n = 70) already diagnosed with neurocysticercosis on a minimum follow-up of six months were consecutively enroled in the study over a period of four months. Majority of them were boys [41 (58%)] with a mean (SD) age of 9.8 (3.2) y. Headache was reported by 24 (34.2%) children. Only one child among them qualified the diagnosis of migraine as per International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-3 criteria. The proportion of children with and without headache was comparable among those with active or inactive lesion [p = 0.21]; single or multiple lesions [p = 0.78]; and stages of NCC [p = 0.23]. The proportion of children with headache was similar irrespective of the activity and the number of NCC lesions. This alerts the pediatrician to evaluate the headache and consider migraine among CWE treated for NCC.
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