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Updated: Oct 7, 2025
Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
The association between gastro-oesophageal reflux and migraine in the paediatric population: a multicentre
Léa Lenglart1, Vincenzo Raieli2, Vittorio Sciruicchio3
1Department of Paediatric Emergency Care, DM'UP, APHP, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 Boulevard Serrurier, Paris, 75019, France. lea.lenglart@gmail.com.
Insights
Infantile regurgitation in infants is linked to a higher likelihood of developing migraine in childhood. This study suggests a potential connection that may influence future diagnosis and treatment strategies for both conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children are often comorbid with primary headaches like migraine and tension-type headache.
- A history of infantile colic, a common infant issue, is associated with primary headaches in older children.
- This research is the first to explore the link between infantile regurgitation and primary headaches in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a history of infantile regurgitation and the occurrence of primary headaches (migraine and tension-type headache) in children aged 6-17 years.
- To determine if infantile regurgitation is a potential risk factor for developing primary headaches in children.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 195 children diagnosed with primary headaches and 240 age-matched controls with minor injuries.
- Data collected via a structured questionnaire on infantile regurgitation and other FGIDs.
- The study period was from February 1st, 2020, to December 1st, 2020, across five European pediatric hospitals.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between infantile regurgitation and migraine (OR=1.88, p=0.04).
- No significant association was observed between infantile regurgitation and tension-type headache (p=0.33).
- Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association between infantile regurgitation and migraine without aura (OR=2.3, p=0.01), also linked to functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and abdominal migraine.
Conclusions:
- Migraine in children aged 6-17 is associated with a history of infantile regurgitation.
- Further longitudinal research is needed to establish infantile regurgitation as a potential precursor to pediatric migraine.
Abstract:
Infantile regurgitation is one of the most common discomforts in the first months of life. Infantile colic and, in older children, functional dyspepsia have been linked to migraine. To date, this is the first study to investigate a possible association between infantile regurgitation and primary headaches in children. This is a case-control study of 195 children aged 6-17 years, with primary headache (migraine, or tension type headache) in 5 European paediatric hospitals. The control group is composed of 240 same-aged children attending with minor injuries during the same period - February 1st 2020 to December 1st 2020. A structured questionnaire identified a history of infantile regurgitation and other functional gastrointestinal disorders for case and control participants. The outcome was the difference in the prevalence of infantile regurgitation among children with or without a diagnosis of primary headache. The analysis showed a significant association between infantile regurgitation and migraine (OR = 1.88, CI 95 = 1.01-3.4, p = 0.04). No association was found between infantile regurgitation and tension type headache (p = 0.33). Subgroup analysis confirmed that the association was only significant for migraine without aura (OR = 2.3, CI 95 = 1.2-4.4, p = 0.01). In a further subgroup analysis, the presence of functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal migraine was associated with migraine without aura.
Conclusion:
The presence of migraine among children aged 6-17 was associated with a history of infantile regurgitation. Additional longitudinal studies are required to confirm whether infantile regurgitation could be considered as a precursor of migraine.
What Is Known:
• Children suffering from functional gastrointestinal disorders are more likely to be suffering from migraine and tension-type headache as well. • Children suffering from primary headache are more likely to have had infantile colic in their first six month of life.
What Is New:
• It is the first study to find an association between migraine and infantile regurgitation in children. • These findings could have an impact on the diagnosis and therapeutics of both migraine and infantile regurgitation.
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