CLINICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF MIGRAINE IN URBAN CHILDREN

Objective.-To establish the frequency, symptoms, duration, and treatme nt methods of childhood migraine in an urban area. Design.-Self-admini stered questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was designed according to criteria suggested by the International Headache Society (IHS). Par ticipants.-In 1994, with the help of school officials in 41 elementary and middle schools in the Greater Cleve-lend Area, 18 000 questionnai res were distributed to the parents of schoolchildren who ranged in ag e from 5 to 13 years.Results.-Of the total 2572 respondents, 222 child ren (8.8%) met the IHS criteria for migraine. Male to female ratio was 1:1.2 (99:120), 65.8% had a positive family history of migraine, 30.6 % had onset of migraine at 4 to 5 years of age, and 54.1% reported hav ing an aura (71% of these were visual aura). The headaches were mostly pulsating, poorly localized, lasted about 2 to 12 hours, and were agg ravated by motion, noise, and bright light. The associated symptoms we re nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. During the attack, 43% of the migraineurs had to stay in bed, and 27% were unable to atte nd school. Only 19.8% of the migraineurs were diagnosed to have migrai ne by their physicians, and most of these had not received treatment. Conclusion.-This study in an urban area indicates that childhood migra ine is a common, often underdiagnosed disorder that causes significant suffering for children and their families.