PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL-FEATURES OF ABDOMINAL MIGRAINE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF MIGRAINE HEADACHE

The prevalence and clinical features of migraine headache and abdomina l migraine were studied in the well defined population of Aberdeen sch oolchildren. Ten per cent of all children (2165) aged 5-15 years were given a questionnaire inquiring, among other symptoms, about the histo ry of headache and abdominal pain over the past year. A total of 1754 children (81%) responded. Children with at least two episodes of sever e headache and/or severe abdominal pain, attributed by the parents eit her to unknown causes or to migraine, were invited to attend for clini cal interview and examination. After interview, 159 children fulfilled the International Headache Society's criteria for the diagnosis of mi graine and 58 children had abdominal migraine giving estimated prevale nce rates of 10.6% and 4.1% respectively. Children with abdominal migr aine had demographic and social characteristics similar to those of ch ildren with migraine. They also had similar patterns of associated rec urrent painful conditions, trigger and relieving factors, and associat ed symptoms during attacks. The similarities between the two condition s are so close as to suggest that they have a common pathogenesis.