Significance of headache in inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionResearch has shown clear correlation between inflammatory conditions and a prothrombotic state. Cerebral vein thrombosis can be fatal and diagnosis is challenging as symptoms are unspecific.ObjectivesThe main objective of the study is to find the association between headache and inflammatory bowel diseases.Material and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Foundation University Islamabad and Dow Medical College Karachi during 2021 to 2022. Data was collected from 20 patients presenting in OPD of the hospital. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease unclassified presented to emergency department with a 3-day history of nausea, vomiting, headache and sporadic abdominal pain along with intermittent bloody stools in recent weeks.ResultsData was collected from 20 patients. There were 8 males and 12 females with mean age of 45.67 ± 2.34 years. No differences were found when comparing the distribution of data including IBD and migraine or severe headache. The prevalence of migraine or severe headache and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and by selected characteristics were calculated.ConclusionIt is concluded that headache is frequent and disabling in IBD patients, highlighting the probable role of the brain–gut axis in this co-occurrence of pathologies.