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[A retrospective study of infant headache]
S Sánchez-Precioso1, E García-Cantó, O Villaescusa
1Servicio de Neuropediatria, Hospital Infantil La Fe, Valencia.
Revista De Neurologia
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Pediatric headaches requiring hospitalization are common. Migraine is the most frequent diagnosis, and routine brain CT scans may not be cost-effective for children without neurological signs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Clinical Epidemiology
Context:
- Headache is a common reason for pediatric medical consultation and hospitalization.
- This study focuses on children and adolescents aged 3-13 experiencing headaches severe enough for hospitalization.
Purpose:
- To determine the incidence, epidemiology, clinical features, and etiology of headaches in hospitalized children.
- To evaluate the utility of diagnostic examinations performed during hospitalization.
Summary:
- The study reviewed 94 cases, finding most patients were over seven, with symptoms evolving rapidly, and a high incidence of family history of migraine (58.5%).
- Common symptoms included vomiting (38.2%) and nausea (22.3%). While 17% showed signs of increased intracranial pressure or neurological deficits, 67% had normal physical exams.
- Migraine was the most frequent diagnosis (52%). Electroencephalography was abnormal in 25%, and brain CT scans revealed space-occupying lesions in only 3.2% of cases.
Impact:
- Findings question the routine use of brain CT scans in pediatric headache patients lacking focal neurological signs or signs of increased intracranial pressure.
- Highlights the diagnostic yield of clinical evaluation and suggests a more targeted approach to neuroimaging in pediatric headache management.