CLINICAL PROFILE OF HEADACHE AMONG CHILDREN IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

KRISHNAKUMAR BALARAMAN; VELUSAMY SUBRAMANIAN; JAYAKUMAR MUTHAIYAN; SWAPNA PONNAMBALAM

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

CLINICAL PROFILE OF HEADACHE AMONG CHILDREN IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Krishnakumar Balaraman, Velusamy Subramanian, Jayakumar Muthaiyan, Swapna Ponnambalam

Abstract :

OBJECTIVE:Todetermine the clinical profile of headache in children.SETTING:Paediatric Neurology Department of Stanley Hospital.DESIGN:Cross sectional study.PARTICIPANTS:75 children between 5–12 years presenting to headache clinic.PROCEDURE:Children presenting with headache were interviewed and examined and results documented.RESULTS:Prevalence of headache increased with increasing age and is more common in females.Migraine without aura was common (72%).Among thosewith aura,visual aura was the most common (75%).School stress (13.3%) and sunlight(9.3%)were the most common precipitating factors. Headaches were usually relieved by sleep(32%) and analgesics(37%). Comorbidities were observed in 16% of children.62% of children had a family history of migraine.40% of children reported missing school and 6.6% of children were hospitalized for headache.CONCLUSION:Primary headache is the most common type observed in our study. Headaches were more common in the adolescent age group and in females.Headache was associated with significant disability in terms of school absenteism and hospitalization.