Related Experiment Videos
Twelve cases of analgesic headache
1Department of Paediatrics, Hartlepool General Hospital, Cleveland, UK. david.symon@virgin.net
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 26, 1998
Summary
Analgesic headache, a condition where headache medications worsen symptoms, is now described in children. Overuse of common pain relievers like paracetamol can trigger this in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Analgesic headache is a recognized condition in adults, characterized by medication overuse leading to chronic headaches.
- Its occurrence and specific triggers in pediatric populations have not been well-documented.
- Mild analgesics, including paracetamol, are frequently used for childhood headaches, raising concerns about potential overuse.
Observation:
- This study reports on twelve children (nine girls, three boys; aged 6-16.5 years) experiencing analgesic headache.
- Headache duration ranged from three months to 10 years.
- Medications involved included paracetamol alone (n=5), paracetamol with codeine (n=6), and ibuprofen (n=1).
Findings:
- Analgesic headache was successfully treated by abrupt withdrawal of the offending analgesic medication in eight out of twelve children.
- Two children continued to experience episodic migraine headaches after withdrawal.
- One child reported reduced headache frequency, while another relapsed into analgesic abuse.
Implications:
- This study highlights that analgesic headache can occur in children, even with mild analgesics like paracetamol.
- It underscores the importance of careful medication history and management strategies for pediatric headaches.
- Recognizing and treating analgesic headache in children is crucial for improving patient outcomes and preventing chronic headache conditions.