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Childhood Onset Cluster Headaches
Author(s) -
Maytal Joseph,
Lipton Richard B.,
Solomon Seymour,
Shinnar Solomo
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1992.hed3206275.x
Subject(s) - headaches , cluster headache , cluster (spacecraft) , pediatrics , medicine , migraine , psychiatry , programming language , computer science
SYNOPSIS Cluster headaches are rare in childhood. We identified 35 patients with cluster headaches starting at or before 18 years of age, including 7 patients with onset prior to age 10. All patients met the criteria of the International Headache Society for episodic or chronic cluster headaches. Patients experienced cluster headaches for as long as 20 years before seeking medical attention and required many medical contacts to establish the correct diagnosis. The clinical features f cluster headaches during childhood were similar to those which typically occur in adult life. Cluster headache patterns changed over 18 years of follow up.The frequency and duration of cluster periods increased in 14 subjects. The frequency of single headache attacks during cluster periods also increased in a similar number of subjects. We conclude that cluster headaches starting in childhood or adolescence closely resemble the adult form of the disease. In many patients, the frequency and duration of cluster periods and the frequency of the individual headache episodes increased over time. Cluster headache represent a treatable under‐recognized cause of severe headache in childhood and adolescence.