Predictors of abdominal pain in schoolchildren: a 4-year population-based prospective study.
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BACKGROUND: Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) is common among schoolchildren, but risk factors for its onset are still largely unknown. AIMS: To determine the frequency of onset of CAP in schoolchildren and investigate risk factors for its development. METHODS: 1411 schoolchildren aged 11-14 years were recruited from schools in North West England. Information was collected on recent pain symptoms and potential risk factors for developing CAP. Participants were followed up 1 and 4 years later and new episodes of CAP were identified. RESULTS: 22% reported new-onset abdominal pain at 1-year follow-up which persisted at 4-year follow-up (CAP). CAP was almost three times higher in girls than boys (34% vs 13%; chi(2): 26.0; p<0.001). In girls, reporting headache at baseline was the only predictive factor for CAP onset: those reporting headaches experienced a doubling in the risk of symptom onset (relative risk: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 0.95 to 4.7). In contrast, in boys, development of CAP was independently predicted by daytime tiredness (3.0; 1.2 to 7.6), lack of school enjoyment (2.0; 0.95 to 4.2), adverse psychosocial exposures (2.3; 1.2 to 4.5) and taller stature (1.9; 0.8 to 4.5). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that over 20% of adolescent schoolchildren experience new-onset non-self-limiting abdominal pain over a 1-year period. Future abdominal pain is predicted by previous somatic symptom reporting in girls and both somatic symptom reporting and psychosocial factors in boys. These risk factors indicate a possible mechanism for understanding the development of CAP, and might have important implications for both primary and secondary preventive strategies. (+info)
The differential diagnosis of chronic daily headaches: an algorithm-based approach.
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Chronic daily headaches (CDHs) refers to primary headaches that happen on at least 15 days per month, for 4 or more hours per day, for at least three consecutive months. The differential diagnosis of CDHs is challenging and should proceed in an orderly fashion. The approach begins with a search for "red flags" that suggest the possibility of a secondary headache. If secondary headaches that mimic CDHs are excluded, either on clinical grounds or through investigation, the next step is to classify the headaches based on the duration of attacks. If the attacks last less than 4 hours per day, a trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) is likely. TACs include episodic and chronic cluster headache, episodic and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, SUNCT, and hypnic headache. If the duration is > or =4 h, a CDH is likely and the differential diagnosis encompasses chronic migraine, chronic tension-type headache, new daily persistent headache and hemicrania continua. The clinical approach to diagnosing CDH is the scope of this review. (+info)
Uncontrolled headache induced by oxcarbazepine.
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Headache induced by acute exposure to a specific drug constitutes an idiosyncratic side effect. Metabolic imbalance appears as the leading aetiology, among several other hypotheses. Either primary headaches show a higher susceptibility to this idiosyncratic reaction or a drug-induced primary headache evolves in intensity and duration, becoming uncontrolled until the complete discontinuation of the drug in consideration. The goal of this study is to describe three patients diagnosed with migraine and epilepsy (both under control) who evolved into status migrainosus after the introduction of oxcarbazepine (OXC), as part of a switch off from carbamazepine (CBZ). Twenty-four to seventy-two hours following the switch, all patients developed intractable headache, despite the use of different symptomatic drugs. Complete recovery of the headache symptoms occurred only after OXC was discontinued. We discuss the potential mechanisms associated to OXC and status migrainosus, drug-induced headaches and uncontrolled headaches. (+info)
Epidural blood patch for chronic daily headache with postural component: a case report and the review of published cases.
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Post dural puncture headache (PDPH) can be observed after any trauma to the dura. The hallmark of PDPH is an increasing headache when assuming the upright position and improvement with the supine position. Diagnosis of PDPH is essentially based on history of dural puncture and clinical presentation. In most cases, if initial conservative therapies fail to provide the relief of symptoms, an epidural blood patch is the therapy of choice. Epidural blood patch is a safe and effective treatment for PDPH and routinely done for acute onset of postural headache after spinal or epidural anesthesia or analgesia. Here, we report the successful treatment of chronic daily headache with a postural component via an epidural blood patch one year after the onset. We also review the literature pertinent to the use of epidural blood patch in chronic daily headache patients with postural component. (+info)
Sinusitis in children and adolescents with chronic or recurrent headache: a case-control study.
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