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Advances in paediatric migraine
G Friedman
Headache
is one of the most common complaints of children who
present to primary care providers. Although parents
are often concerned about sinister pathology, the majority
of children with headaches have primary headache syndromes,
including migraine and tension-type headaches. Diagnostic
criteria for children are currently evolving to better
reflect the unique challenges of this group of patients.
Advances in migraine pharmacotherapy have been achieved
through the understanding of serotonin and its role
in migraine pathophysiology. Serotonin agonists, commonly
known as 'triptans', are the current standard of care
in the management of acute migraine in adults. Recent
evidence has confirmed that the efficacy of triptans
also occurs in children. The present article focuses
on recent advances in the areas of epidemiology, diagnostic
criteria and pathophysiology of paediatric migraine.
In addition, the present article reviews the evidence
of management issues, including neuroimaging and the
use of triptans in children.
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