title: Peri-ictal and inter-ictal headache in children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy: a multicenter cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Headache in epileptic population ranges from 8% to 15%. The aim of this paper was to study the clinical and temporal characteristics of primary headache comorbidity in idiopathic epileptic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2006 to June 2009, a cross-sectional multi-center study involving five Italian Child Neurology University Centers (two in Rome, one in Chieti, one in Naples, and one in L'Aquila) was conducted. Among 1,264 consecutively newly diagnosed, idiopathic, partial, or generalized, epileptic children, according to ILAE diagnostic criteria (aged between 5 and 15 years of age), we selected 142 children (11.2%) (130 of whom completed the study) who showed an associated peri-ictal and/or inter-ictal headache diagnosed according to the International Headache Society Criteria. Rare cases of "ictal epileptic headache", in which headache represents the sole ictal epileptic manifestation, were excluded from this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-ictal headaches were most frequent (62%). Pre-ictal headaches were less common (30%). Inter-ictal headaches were described in 57.6%. Clear migrainous features were present in 93% of pre-ictal and 81.4% of post-ictal headaches. Inter-ictal headaches meet criteria for migraines in 87%. The association between partial epilepsy and migraine without aura is most common and reported in 82% of our patients with peri-ictal headache and in 76.5% of patients with post-ictal headache.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Verrotti
authors: Giangennaro
authors: G
authors: Coppola
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Spalice
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Di Fonzo
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Bruschi
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Tozzi
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Iannetti
authors: Maria Pia
authors: MP
authors: Villa
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*