Primary Headache Disorder Among School Students in Kuwait.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Primary headaches are a significant global health concern, with increasing prevalence in children.
• Data on primary headache trends in the Gulf region's pediatric population is limited.
• Understanding childhood headache prevalence is crucial for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of primary headache disorders among primary and middle school students in Kuwait.
• To identify the types and patterns of primary headaches in this specific demographic.
• To investigate potential factors influencing headache prevalence, such as age and gender.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected Kuwaiti schools during the 2018/2019 academic year.
• The Headache-Attributed Restriction, Disability, Social Handicap, and Impaired Participation (HARDSHIP) questionnaire was administered to assess headache types and impact.
• Data analysis included calculating prevalence rates for various primary headache disorders and comparing them across age groups and genders.

Main Results:

• The 1-year prevalence of primary headaches was 42.78% among 1,089 participating students.
• Migraine headaches were the most common type (20.75%), followed by tension-type headaches (18.8%).
• Headache prevalence was higher in middle schoolers (50.37%) than primary schoolers (30.48%), and significantly higher in girls than boys in middle school (66.46% vs. 38.49%).

Conclusions:

• Primary headaches are highly prevalent in Kuwaiti school children, with migraines being the most frequent diagnosis.
• Age and female gender appear to be associated with an increased risk of primary headaches in this population.
• The findings highlight the need for focused health services and further epidemiological research on childhood headaches in the region.