Circadian and seasonal variation of migraine attacks in children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the rhythmicity of migraine episodes without aura in a pediatric population.


METHODS
Time of occurrence of 2517 migraine attacks in 115 children was recorded, by means of a diary, both by hourly and monthly intervals.


RESULTS
A significant circadian variation, characterized by a peak in the afternoon (P < .001) and one in the early morning (P= .002) was found. A seasonal peak was also observed between November and January, while a nadir was observed in July.


CONCLUSIONS
The clustering of attacks in the morning and midday and in autumn-winter, with a minimum frequency in July, suggests that school activities may represent an important cause of migraine.
Soriani
Stefano
S
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine--Pediatrics, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
Fiumana
Elisa
E
Manfredini
Roberto
R
Boari
Benedetta
B
Battistella
Pier Antonio
PA
Canetta
Elisabetta
E
Pedretti
Stefania
S
Borgna-Pignatti
Caterina
C
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012621:Seasons