Determinants of tension-type headache in children.
The objective of this study was to study the prevalence, characteristics and predisposing factors of tension-type headache in children. An unselected population-based questionnaire study was carried out in 1409 Finnish schoolchildren aged 12 years. Of them, 1135 (81%) returned an acceptably completed questionnaire. The prevalence of episodic tension-type headache in children was 12% (138 of 1135). Children with episodic tension-type headache also often reported characteristics of pain typical for migraine. Children with frequent and persistent episodic tension-type headache reported stabbing and severe occipital pain, phonophobia and abdominal pain significantly more often than children with infrequent episodic tension-type headache. Neck-shoulder symptoms, symptoms of depression and oromandibular dysfunction were each independently associated with episodic tension-type headache. The father's occupation of a lower-level white-collar worker put the child at a four-fold risk for episodic tension-type headache. We conclude that episodic tension-type headache is as common as migraine in children. It can be associated with depression, oromandibular dysfunction and muscular stress. Especially children with frequent and persistent episodic tension-type headache report characteristics of pain typical for migraine.
Anttila
P
P
Child and Adolescent Health Care, City of Turku, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. pirjoa.antitila@pp.fimnet.fi
Metsähonkala
L
L
Aromaa
M
M
Sourander
A
A
Salminen
J
J
Helenius
H
H
Alanen
P
P
Sillanpää
M
M
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000855:Anorexia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D020795:Photophobia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
D000700:Analgesics