Pain and disability in migraine or other recurrent headaches as reported by children

To evaluate the pain intensity and physical disability during migraine attacks, 340 children suffering from headache were studied in an outpatient setting. A validated self‐reporting five‐faces scale was used. Intensity of headache was more severe and attacks longer but less frequent in 253 children with migraine than in 87 children with other types of headache. On a pain scale, 69% of the children with migraine expressed maximal pain vs 32% of those with other types of headache. Bed rest for migraine attacks was required by 96% of the children. Severe migraine was at least as common in prepubertal as in pubertal children. The severity of the pain and disability related to migraine attacks should be evaluated carefully and treated appropriately.