Clinical Experience on Headache in Children: Analysis of 92 Cases

Abstract

We analyzed, retrospectively, 92 patients with headache to determine the changes in the order of frequency of causes with the development of neuroimaging studies and its efficacy in the investigation of patients with headache. The type of headache was redefined according to the International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria. Migraine was the most frequent cause of headache and the rest in decreasing order were: tension-type headache, sinusitis, and epilepsy. The percentage of the findings relevant to headache in computed tomographic (CT) scans, magnetic resonance images (MRIs), Waters' projection (radiographs), and electroencephalograms (EEGs) were respectively 4.2%, 33.3%, 16%, and 25%. Neuroimaging studies are not necessary in the routine evaluation of patients with headache unless there is an abnormality in the findings. When it is needed, MRI, which has higher yield, can take the place of CT scanning. The most important point is taking a proper history of headache and making a thorough physical and neurologic examination of the patient. (J Child Neurol 1998;13:202-210).