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Childhood headache risk: warning signs and symptoms present during the first six months of life
Insights
Infants exhibiting early-life hyperreactivity are significantly more likely to develop periodic syndromes and non-organic headaches later in childhood. This research identifies key predictors for these common childhood conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Non-organic headache in children is often associated with periodic syndromes.
- Previous observations linked periodic syndromes to physical and behavioral hyperreactivity in early infancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate if infants with early-life hyperreactivity are predisposed to developing periodic syndromes and/or non-organic headaches.
- To validate a new assessment test for infant hyperreactivity.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted involving 183 hyperreactive infants and 80 control subjects.
- Hyperreactivity was assessed in the first six months of life using a developed test.
- Subjects were followed up to an average age of 10.8 years (hyperreactive group) and 10.2 years (control group).
Main Results:
- 52.9% of hyperreactive infants developed common migraine compared to 15% in the control group.
- 64.5% of hyperreactive infants experienced periodic syndromes versus 12.5% in the control group.
- A frequent co-existence of migraine and periodic syndrome was observed in the hyperreactive group.
Conclusions:
- Early identification of infant hyperreactivity can predict a higher propensity for developing periodic syndromes and non-organic headaches.
- This finding aids in identifying infants at risk for these conditions, enabling potential early intervention strategies.
Abstract:
In the history of children suffering from non-organic headache, the presence of periodic syndromes can often be found. In previous observations we ascertained that periodic syndromes are a common finding in children showing physical and behavioural characteristics of "hyperreactivity" in the first months of their lives. We have tried to verify, through a prospective study, whether children with "hyperreactivity" in the first months of life are particularly prone to develop periodic syndromes and/or non-organic headache. We have developed an appropriate test for the assessment of hyperreactivity in the first 6 months of life. We have isolated 183 hyperreactive subjects; 102 of them have been followed-up to an average age of 10.8 years, together with a control group of 80 subjects followed-up to an average age of 10.2 years. Of the 102 hyperreactive infants, 54 (52.9%) suffered from common migraine, versus 12 (15%) of the control group; 66 (64.5%) hyperreactive infants suffered from periodic syndrome, versus 10 (12.5%) of the control group. There was frequently a co-existence of migraine and periodic syndrome. It is thus possible to identify infants who are particularly prone to develop periodic syndromes and headache.