Migraine is a common issue among children and teens, but a new study says that too few receive appropriate treatment. This is especially true in urban areas, according to Robert A. Nicholson, PhD, of Mercy Clinic Headache Center & Mercy Health Research in St. Louis. He presented the information at the recent Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society.
In a retrospective study that spanned four states and included five years of medical records from nearly 40,000 children ages 6 to 17, researchers found that just 16% received evidence-based treatment for acute migraine. Nearly 38% received other medication, and 46% received no medication at all. Overall, girls fared better than boys, with young female migraineurs more likely to receive evidence-based treatment than their male counterparts. Researchers also found that the best care occurred in primary care settings, rather than in emergency departments or urgent care centers.
Also concerning, researchers said, is that health care professionals prescribed opioids at the first visit for 1 in 6 children seeking care for migraine or probable migraine. Opioids are not a recommended migraine treatment.
Evidence-based medication for migraine treatment include triptans, some non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and certain analgesic medications.
“We know which medications work best in children and teens with migraine,” Dr. Nicholson said. “It’s time that healthcare providers understand that evidence-based care is the right way to go.”
The records also indicated that when children were given a diagnosis of migraine (17.7%) or headache (36.6%), appropriate treatment was more likely to follow. In nearly 46% of the cases, however, no diagnosis was provided.
Commenting on this study, NHF President Arthur Elkind, MD, noted that childhood migraine often has a shorter duration than in adults, and some prescribers may believe medications to be unnecessary or have the potential of creating adverse effects. They may therefore suggest non-pharmceutical treatments. Apart from those caveats, Dr. Elkind endorsed better professional education in diagnosis and treatment of headache disorders for optimal headache and migraine treatment in the pediatric population.
National Headache Foundation Newsletter July 2015
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Recent Research indicates that the burden of Chronic migraine extends well beyond the people living with it, significantly impacting family members and resulting in cancelled vacation plans and reduced time with partners and children. A number of interesting findings came out of the study including:
* Those surveyed cancelled plans more than four times per month on average;
* They reported reduced involvement in family activities nearly seven times per month on average;
* They also reported missing a date or social event with their partner nearly three times per month on average, and
* One in five have missed a planned family vacation as a result of the condition within the past year.
National Headache Foundation Newsletter July 2015