title: Botulinum Toxin A for the Treatment of a Child with SUNCT Syndrome.
abstract: Background. Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome is an unusual cause of headache, mainly described in older adults, and is rare in children. Pain attacks may be severe, frequent, and prolonged. The therapeutic benefits of many drugs are disappointing. Patient and Methods. A 12-year-old boy suffered severe headache and toothache for 20 days. As treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, and steroids proved ineffective, he was treated with ipsilateral multisite subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A 70 U around the orbit, the temporal area, and the upper gum. Results. The pain had reduced in frequency and severity by the fourth day after treatment and had completely disappeared after 7 days. There were no side effects or recurrence during a subsequent 17-month follow-up period. Conclusion. Botulinum toxin A can be used to treat the first episode of SUNCT in children over the age of 12 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Nan-Chang
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050798:SUNCT Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A