Pediatric Cluster Headache Beyond Diagnostic Criteria: A Case Series and Review of Treatment Response

Cluster headache is a headache disorder characterized by short-lasting, unilateral attacks in or around the eye accompanied by autonomic symptoms. As cluster headache in children is rare, it has been considered an adult disorder, causing significant diagnostic delays in children. Pediatric cases of cluster may not feature typical symptoms and can resemble migraine, so diagnoses can be difficult to make. In this case series, we report on four children (3 males and 1 female) diagnosed with cluster headache, including one who did not meet all International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third edition criteria but had positive response to cluster headache treatments.