title: Juvenile migraine and allodynia: results of a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are only 2 small sample studies investigating allodynia in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of allodynia during cephalalgic attacks in a juvenile population with primary headaches and its association with other symptoms of migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed all medical records of patients with primary headache consecutively seen during a 2-year period. Frequency of allodynia was evaluated, by means of a questionnaire, consisting of 6 questions (for example: Do you avoid touching your head when you have a migraine attack?).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred thirty children suffering from primary headache were seen during the study period. Two hundred two children were affected by migraine, 28 (12.2%) by other primary headaches. Migraineurs significantly more frequently complained of allodynia compared to other primary headaches (37% vs 0%). At multivariate analysis, allodynia was significantly associated with pain aggravated by physical activity (adjusted odds ratio [ORa ] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0, 3.8), phonophobia (ORa 2.3, 95% CI 1.0, 5.1), and nausea (ORa 1.9, 95% CI 1.0, 3.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our data, allodynia is common during pediatric migraine attacks. The association between allodynia and physical activity, nausea and phonophobia are supported by studies on adult population and suggests specific physiopathological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Di Cristina Hospital, ARNAS CIVICO, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raieli
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trapolino
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spitaleri
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Consolo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanadia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Amelio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009325:Nausea; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: allodynia; children; migraine; nausea; phonophobia; primary headache