Clinical, Radiological Characteristics and Outcomes of Primary Headache in Children at a Tertiary Hospital in Kenya:...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

• Primary headache disorders are common in children, impacting quality of life.
• Accurate diagnosis and management are crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the clinical and radiological features of primary headaches in children.
• To determine the outcomes and treatment effectiveness in pediatric primary headache patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study involving 73 children diagnosed with primary headache.
• Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, pain severity (Visual Analog Scale), MRI, and EEG findings.
• Patient outcomes were assessed at 3 and 6 months follow-up.

Main Results:

• Migraine was the most frequent diagnosis, affecting 74.0% of patients.
• The median age was 10 years, with 52.1% females.
• Most children (68.5%) presented with severe headaches; however, most were pain-free at follow-up.
• Abnormal MRI findings were present in 4.1% and abnormal EEG in 6.8% of patients.
• Sodium valproate was the most commonly used prophylactic agent (84.0%).

Conclusions:

• Migraine is the predominant primary headache disorder in the pediatric population.
• Thorough clinical history and physical examination are essential, potentially reducing the need for extensive investigations.
• Effective prophylactic treatment can significantly mitigate disability associated with pediatric primary headaches.