[Migraine - diagnostic features, acute therapy and prophylactics].

Migraine is a chronic. disabling, biologically determined, inherited brain disorder rendering life much less tolerable. The International Headache Society (IHS) offers guidelines for the classification and diagnosis of migraine headaches, in a document called 'The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition' (ICHD-2). Migraine affects 10-16% of the population world-wide. For the 20-30% of migraine sufferers who experience migraine with aura, this aura comprises focal neurological phenomena that precede or accompany the attack. There are three main aspects of treatment: trigger avoidance, acute symptomatic control, and pharmacological prevention. Acute medications are more effective if used earlier in an attack. The goals of preventive therapy are to reduce the frequency, painfulness, and/or duration of migraines, and to increase quality of life.