Recurrent headaches in children: an epidemiological survey of two middle schools in inner city Chicago.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of headaches in a school-based, community setting and to determine the impact of headache symptoms on the health of children.


METHODS
After institutional review board approval, a prospective cohort study was conducted at two Chicago public schools for a period of 6 months. Members of the research team surveyed both schools weekly for headache and other pain symptoms. The students rated each pain symptom on a 5-point scale from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("a whole lot"). Demographic information was collected at the time of enrollment, and all participants were asked to complete age-appropriate and validated pediatric surveys to assess the severity of concurrent somatic complaints, anxiety symptoms, functional limitations, and quality of life issues.


RESULTS
Of the participating children, 89.5% reported at least one headache during the study period. Females experienced more frequent headaches compared with males (P < 0.05). Children reporting headaches had a significantly increased risk of experiencing other troubling somatic symptoms (P < 0.05). Headache severity showed a moderate correlation with increased feelings of anxiety, functional disability, and a diminished quality of life (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
School-aged children commonly experience headaches. Children experiencing headaches are more likely to report other somatic symptoms, feelings of anxiety, functional limitations, and quality of life impairments.
Nyame
Yaw A
YA
Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA.
Ambrosy
Andrew P
AP
Saps
Miguel
M
Adams
Papa N
PN
Dhroove
Gati N
GN
Suresh
Santhanam
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic