Headache in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years in Northern Italy: Prevalence and risk factors

Abstract Objective Aim of this study is to examine the epidemiology of paediatric headache and periodic syndromes in a school population and to evaluate the co-existence of environmental predisposing conditions. Design and methods A 60-item questionnaire was completed by a school-based sample ( n = 1536, ages 6–18 years). Diagnostic assessment of primary headache and periodic syndromes was established in first section; predisposing conditions in the second section; while the third section quantified the frequency of self medication and identified drugs most frequently used. Results Headache was reported by 62.1% of subjects. Socioeconomic status, composition of family unit and nutrition habits in the first year of life did not appear significantly different in subjects with headache compared to healthy controls. A good sleep quality was found in 95.2% of healthy controls, in 89.4% of children with occasional headache. Recurrent abdominal pain, motor weakness and car sickness was significantly higher in primary headache group compared to occasional headache. Depressive/anxious traits were significantly higher in primary headache and occasional headache groups than in healthy controls. The frequency of aggressive traits was also higher in children with primary headache compared to occasional headache and healthy control subjects. 72.5% of subjects with primary headache and 58.4% of children with occasional headache assumed medicines to relieve pain. Paracetamol was the most frequently assumed drug. Conclusions Our data show a more frequent occurrence of anxious/depressive profile in children suffering from primary headache. In agreement with literature data, this research points out that self-treatment is a relevant problem in paediatric headache.