To estimate the lifetime migraine prevalence in school adolescents aged 13-
15 in Taiwan, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey in four
sampled public junior high schools. Migraine was diagnosed according to th
e diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. A total of 406
4 students (1983 boys, 2081 girls) completed the questionnaire (response ra
te 91.6%). The lifetime prevalence of migraine was 6.8%. It was significant
ly higher in girls than boys (7.8% vs. 5.7%) and increased with age in both
sexes. Students with migraine were more likely to be absent from school be
cause of their headaches than those with non-migraine headaches (30% vs. 14
%, odds ratio (OR) 2.7). They were also more likely to use painkillers for
their headaches than their non-migraine headache peers (72% vs. 40%, OR 4.0
). These results suggest that migraine is a common disorder of adolescents
in Taiwan and its impact on the quality of life can not be ignored.