Short-Term Outcomes of Tension Type and Migraine Headache in Children
Somjit Sri-udomkajorn MD*, Surapee Ruangsuwan MD*
Affiliation : * Division of Child Neurology, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Department of Medical Service, Ministry of Pubic Health, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok
Objective : To study the short-term outcome and the factors associated with the outcome in childhood tension
type and migraine headache patients.
Material and Method: Children aged 16 years or less with first diagnosed of either migraine or tension-type
headache were reassured the cause of headache and treated by avoiding triggering factors, taking intermittent
analgesics or a daily preventive medication such as propanolol 10 mg two times a day or amitriptyline 10 mg
at night for patients who were suffered from the frequent headache attacks whether had to stop activity or go
to sleep. They were followed up at 2 weeks and 2 months to confirm the diagnosis and the response to the
treatment. The short-term outcomes and the possible factors associated with the outcomes were analysed.
Results : Pre-treatment 81% of migraine patients and 43.5% of tension-type patients were significant frequently
suffered from headache attacks. Post-treatment revealed that it reduced to 4% in migraine patients and 16%
tension-type patients. Gender, age at onset, severity before treatment, precipitating factors; hot weather, sleep
deprivation, learning stress, familial stress, night awakening, familial history of headache were not statistically
significant in short-term outcomes.
Conclusion : Treatment childhood tension-type and migraine headache by reassurance, avoid the probably
precipitating factors, intermittent analgesics and usage of amitriptyline or propanolol had good efficacy
in reducing the severity of attack. The authors cannot identify the associated factor with the outcome of
treatment.
Keywords : Migraine, Tension-type headache, Short-term outcomes
