EFFECT OF AGE ON THE FULFILLMENT OF THE IHS CRITERIA FOR MIGRAINE IN CHILDREN AT A HEADACHE CLINIC

In a headache clinic, 247 children suffering from severe recurrent headaches were studied in relation to the IHS criteria for migraine. Of the 247, 163 had migrainous headache, with 110 (67.5%) of these having migraine in accordance with the VIS criteria. The remaining 53 (32.5%) had headache attacks fulfilling all but one of the IHS criteria. Coverage of the VIS criteria for migraine was 93%. Symptoms of unilateral headache, aggravation by physical activity, and nausea showed the greatest differences in frequency between those with migraine and those with probable migraine. All children with aura fulfilled criteria for migraine. Children with migraine with aura (11.8, 95% CI: 11.0-12.6 years) were older than those without aura (10.1, 9.4-10.8 years; p = 0.001). Children with pulsating headache were slightly older than children without pulsating headache. No differences in age were detected for the other IHS criteria.