title: Prevalence of migraine in patients with a history of self-reported or physician-diagnosed "sinus" headache.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptoms referable to the sinus area are frequently reported during migraine attacks, but are not recognized in diagnostic criteria. Underrecognition of migraine may be partly attributed to a variable clinical presentation, and migraines with "sinus" symptoms contribute to this problem. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of migraine-type headache (International Headache Society [IHS]-defined migraine without aura [IHS 1.1], migraine with aura [IHS 1.2], or migrainous disorder [IHS 1.7]) in patients with a history of self-described or physician-diagnosed "sinus" headache.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a clinic visit, patients with a history of "sinus" headache, no previous diagnosis of migraine, and no evidence of infection were assigned an IHS headache diagnosis on the basis of headache histories and reported symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2991 patients were screened. The majority (88%) of these patients with a history of self-described or physician-diagnosed "sinus" headache were diagnosed at the screening visit as fulfilling IHS migraine criteria (80% of patients) or migrainous criteria (8% of patients). The most common symptoms referable to the sinus area reported by patients at screening were sinus pressure (84%), sinus pain (82%), and nasal congestion (63%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, 88% of patients with a history of "sinus" headache were determined to have migraine-type headache. In patients with recurrent headaches without fever or purulent discharge, the presence of sinus-area symptoms may be part of the migraine process. Migraine should be included in the differential diagnosis of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Headache Care Center, Springfield, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Powers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012650:Self Disclosure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics