Masahide Goto1, Koji Yokoyama2, Yasuyuki Nozaki2, Koichi Itoh3, Ryou Kawamata4, Shizuko Matsumoto4, Takanori Yamagata5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Hitachiomiya Saiseikai Hospital, Hitachiomiya, Ibaraki, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan. Electronic address: mgoto@jichi.ac.jp. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Hitachiomiya Saiseikai Hospital, Hitachiomiya, Ibaraki, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Hitachiomiya Saiseikai Hospital, Hitachiomiya, Ibaraki, Japan; Rikuzen-Takata Clinic, Social Welfare Organization Saiseikai Imperial Gift Foundation, Iwate, Japan. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Hitachiomiya Saiseikai Hospital, Hitachiomiya, Ibaraki, Japan. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated pediatric headaches in Japan. Thus, we examined the lifetime prevalence and characteristics of headaches among elementary and junior high school students in Japan. METHODS: In this school-based study, children aged 6-15years completed a questionnaire based on the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3β to assess headache characteristics and related disability. RESULTS: Of the 3285 respondents, 1623 (49.4%) experienced headaches. Migraine and tension-type headaches (TTH) were reported by 3.5% and 5.4% of elementary school students, respectively, and by 5.0% and 11.2% of junior high school students. Primary headaches increased with age. Compared with TTH sufferers, the dominant triggers in migraine sufferers were hunger (odds ratio=4.7), sunny weather (3.3), and katakori (neck and shoulder pain) (2.5). Compared with TTH, migraine caused higher headache-related frustration (P=0.010) as well as difficulty concentrating (P=0.017). Migraine-related disability was greater among junior high school students (feeling fed up or irritated, P=0.028; difficulty concentrating, P=0.016). TTH-related disability was also greater among junior high school students (feeling fed up or irritated, P=0.035). Approximately half of the students who complained of headache-related disability were not receiving medical treatment. CONCLUSION: This is the first detailed study of headaches in Japanese children to include elementary school students. Nearly 50% of the school children reported headaches and the disruption of daily activities caused by migraine was higher among junior high students than elementary school students.
PURPOSE: Few studies have investigated pediatric headaches in Japan. Thus, we examined the lifetime prevalence and characteristics of headaches among elementary and junior high school students in Japan. METHODS: In this school-based study, children aged 6-15years completed a questionnaire based on the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3β to assess headache characteristics and related disability. RESULTS: Of the 3285 respondents, 1623 (49.4%) experienced headaches. Migraine and tension-type headaches (TTH) were reported by 3.5% and 5.4% of elementary school students, respectively, and by 5.0% and 11.2% of junior high school students. Primary headaches increased with age. Compared with TTH sufferers, the dominant triggers in migraine sufferers were hunger (odds ratio=4.7), sunny weather (3.3), and katakori (neck and shoulder pain) (2.5). Compared with TTH, migraine caused higher headache-related frustration (P=0.010) as well as difficulty concentrating (P=0.017). Migraine-related disability was greater among junior high school students (feeling fed up or irritated, P=0.028; difficulty concentrating, P=0.016). TTH-related disability was also greater among junior high school students (feeling fed up or irritated, P=0.035). Approximately half of the students who complained of headache-related disability were not receiving medical treatment. CONCLUSION: This is the first detailed study of headaches in Japanese children to include elementary school students. Nearly 50% of the school children reported headaches and the disruption of daily activities caused by migraine was higher among junior high students than elementary school students.
Authors: Thomas Foiadelli; Alessandra Piccorossi; Lucia Sacchi; Mara De Amici; Maurizio Tucci; Ilaria Brambilla; Gian Luigi Marseglia; Salvatore Savasta; Alberto Verrotti Journal: Ital J Pediatr Date: 2018-04-04 Impact factor: 2.638