Publication:

Clinical profile and disability of children presenting with chronic daily headache in a tertiary care hospital

Background The aim of the study is to analyses the clinical profile and disability of children presenting with chronic daily headache to the pediatric outpatient department.

Methods Children and adolescents aged 5-15 years presenting to the paediatric outpatient department with chronic headache were included in the study after obtaining informed consent. Disability due to headache was assessed using the PedMIDAS scoring system. Headache severity was assessed using the visual analog scale for children above 6 years of age and Faces pain scale for children below 6 years.

Results Thirty eight children and adolescents presenting with chronic headache were recruited into the study. Of these children and adolescents, 53% (20) were diagnosed with chronic migraine, 42% (16) children fulfilled the criteria for chronic Tension-type headache and 5% (2) had chronic migraine with aura. The mean Paediatric Migraine Disability Assessment score (PedMIDAS) used to assess the disability due chronic headache was 20.72.

Conclusions Female gender and adolescent age groups are important risk factors for chronic daily headache. Most children and adolescents with CDH have mild disability as assessed using PedMIDAS scoring system.