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Pediatric Migraine Phenomena and Variants: Don't Let Them Go Over Your Head
Shanna Swartwood1, Kendra Pham2, Meghan S Candee3
1Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah and Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Insights
Pediatric migraine with aura and its variants require clear understanding for accurate diagnosis. Early identification of these childhood migraine syndromes reduces costs and anxiety for families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- Migraine is a common headache disorder in children, with variants often presenting early.
- Accurate diagnosis of pediatric migraine with aura is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a clear understanding of pediatric migraine with typical aura and its variants.
- To guide primary care providers and pediatric neurologists in diagnosing and managing these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on pediatric migraine with aura.
- Highlighting genetic mutations, ophthalmologic phenomena, and early manifestations.
- Emphasis on the 2018 International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria.
Main Results:
- Identified genetic mutations linked to specific migraine with aura types.
- Discussed ophthalmologic signs and early childhood migraine presentations with adult correlates.
- Emphasized the prevalence of migraine with or without aura and tension-type headaches in children.
Conclusions:
- Early and accurate diagnosis of episodic syndromes associated with migraine is essential.
- Adherence to ICHD-3 criteria can minimize unnecessary investigations and reduce patient/family burden.
- Improved understanding benefits patients through reduced imaging, referrals, costs, and anxiety.
Purpose Of Review:
Primary care providers, general pediatric neurologists, and other related subspecialty providers require a clear understanding of pediatric migraine with typical aura and its variants.
Recent Findings:
We highlight some of the genetic mutations known to contribute to specific types of migraine with aura, discuss the ophthalmologic phenomena of migraine and call attention to some of the earliest manifestations of migraine in children, many of which have correlates in adulthood. While the majority of headaches in children are migraine with or without aura or tension type, many migraine and aura variants exist. Early and accurate diagnosis of episodic syndromes associated with migraine, as defined by the 2018 ICHD-3 criteria, can help to reduce unnecessary imaging, referrals, cost and anxiety, thereby benefiting patients and their families.
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