Patient- and parent-reported triggers of migraine attacks in children and adolescents

To identify triggers of migraine attacks among children and young people as reported by the patients and/or their parents.

This was an observational, cohort, hospital-based clinical study. The study population included 1487 patients (827 females; age range = 5-17 years) with migraine who were referred to our paediatric headache clinic. Specific enquiry was made about triggers that often or always provoke acute migraine attacks. Diagnosis of migraine was based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders Third Edition, beta version.

Triggers of migraine were reported by 568 out of 1487 (38%) migraineurs. Patients reported one trigger (404/568, 71%), two (118/568, 21%), and three or more (46/568, 7%). Environmental factors were the most common trigger categories (424/568, 75%). Common specific triggers included stress (142/568, 25%), loud noise (140/568, 25%), light (135/568, 24%), and inadequate fluid intake (117/568, 20%). A total of 309 out of 568 (54.5%) patients reported that school was the only source of migraine triggers.

Triggers of migraine attacks are common among children and adolescents. Identifying such triggers in migraineurs could potentially be a step forward in their successful treatment and improved quality of life.