Postępy w badaniach nad bólami głowy u dzieci

Headaches are one of the most frequent abnormal symptoms observed in children. They are also the third cause of absenteeism children in school. The aim of this work was to review up-dated literature data on headaches in children. We presented currently accepted data on epidemiology of headaches, new clinical classification system of headaches, and diagnostic criteria for migraine elaborated in 2004 by the International Headache Society, related to developmental age. Diagnosis of headaches in children was based on physical and neurologic examination, with special attention paid to alarming symptoms and signs. Moreover, different types of primary and secondary headaches were presented, their pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, criteria for establishing diagnosis, and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment, were reviewed. Much attention was paid to irregularities in the immune, biochemical, and pharmacogenetic data reported in patients with headaches, responsible for pathomechanisms of these symptoms. All these data may be helpful in providing more effective medical care for those patients.