Headaches are Major Problem for Children, According to New Study
CINCINNATI -- One of the largest studies ever of chronic daily headaches in children shows that frequent headaches are a significant problem for children and teenagers. The new study, conducted by a physician at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati's Headache Center, also demonstrates that most of these children and adolescents have migraines or migraine-like headaches.
The study, published in the current issue of Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, gives a detailed characterization of chronic daily headaches in children and teenagers.
"Headaches in childhood are a common and significant health problem," says Andrew Hershey, MD, PhD, director of Cincinnati Children's Headache Center and the study's lead author.
"Recurrent headaches can limit activity, worsen with activity, affect school performance and lead to frequent absence from school. Parents whose children complain of headaches should seek help from their pediatricians or family physicians, because early and accurate recognition can help can help make the headaches better."
The researchers studied 577 children and teenagers who had been evaluated at Cincinnati Children's Headache Center, one of the largest in the United States. Of these, 200 (35 percent) had chronic daily headaches -- a minimum of 15 days with headaches each month. Ninety-two percent of the 600 had symptoms clinically consistent with a diagnosis of migraines, according to Dr. Hershey, assistant professor in Cincinnati Children's division of Neurology.
Three subcategories of chronic daily headaches also emerged from the study: 37 percent had frequent headaches (15-29 headache days a month), 43.5 percent had daily intermittent headaches (daily but not continuous headaches), and 19.5 percent had daily continuous headaches.
The most common symptoms occurring in children with chronic daily headaches were nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.
Nearly all children described moderate to severe pain, and most of the children described a throbbing headache, features that are consistent with a diagnosis of migraines. This is often referred to in adults with chronic daily headaches as transformed migraines. Those with daily intermittent headaches had shorter headaches, while the daily continuous group had longer ones.
"Although chronic daily headaches have a significant impact on quality of life, early recognition and treatment can minimize the impact on the child," says Dr. Hershey. "The study should greatly aid in the current management of chronic daily headaches in children and lead to the development of more effective interventions."
Contact Information
Jim Feuer (
jfeuer@chmcc.org), 513-636-4420
