Reimers, M.; Bonemazzi, I.; Brunello, F.; Cavaliere, E.; Sartori, S.; Toldo, I. Primary Stabbing Headache in Children and Adolescents. Life2024, 14, 216.
Reimers, M.; Bonemazzi, I.; Brunello, F.; Cavaliere, E.; Sartori, S.; Toldo, I. Primary Stabbing Headache in Children and Adolescents. Life 2024, 14, 216.
Reimers, M.; Bonemazzi, I.; Brunello, F.; Cavaliere, E.; Sartori, S.; Toldo, I. Primary Stabbing Headache in Children and Adolescents. Life2024, 14, 216.
Reimers, M.; Bonemazzi, I.; Brunello, F.; Cavaliere, E.; Sartori, S.; Toldo, I. Primary Stabbing Headache in Children and Adolescents. Life 2024, 14, 216.
Abstract
Background. Primary Stabbing Headache (PSH) is characterized by brief, focal and paroxysmal pain (“stab”), occurring sporadically or in clusters. Data on pediatric cases are poor. Methods. We performed a comprehensive literature review searching Pubmed, Cochrane and Embase in order to collect pediatric case reports and case series of PSH. Results. Twelve out of 162 articles assessed for eligibility were finally included. Prevalence of PSH and probable PSH varies from 2.5 to 10% among children with primary headaches and it is higher among children aged less than 6 years old. The mean age of onset is between 7 and 11 years of age. Attack duration greatly varies, ranging from a few seconds to several minutes. Intensity of pain is usually from moderate to severe. Associated symptoms are infrequent but may be observed (mainly photophobia, vertigo, nausea and vomiting). Neuroradiological findings are usually unremarkable; EEG may show sporadic epileptiform abnormalities (up to 30% of cases). Preventive therapy is anecdotal, including treatment with indomethacin, trazodone, valproate and amitriptyline. Conclusion: PSH is a common but still underdiagnosed entity among children with primary headache; further and larger cohort studies are needed to better assess, in particular, prognosis and response to therapy.
Keywords
Primary Stabbing Headache; Other Primary Headaches; Children; Adolescents
Subject
Medicine and Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Neurology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
