<p>Menstrual-Related Headaches Among a Cohort of African Adolescent Girls</p>

Abstract

Introduction: Migraine attacks associated with menstruation are generally perceived as more severe than attacks outside this period. Aim and Objective: The study aimed at determining the frequency of menstrual-related headaches among a cohort of senior secondary school girls in Abeokuta, Nigeria. We also determined its burden among these school girls. Methodology: This study was cross-sectional using a validated adolescent headache survey questionnaire. A self-administration of the instrument was done during a school visit. A headache was classified using the ICHD-II criteria. Results: Of the 183 students interviewed, 123(67.2%) had recurrent headaches. Mean age ±SD,. The prevalence of definite migraine was 17.5% while the prevalence of probable migraine was 6.0%. The prevalence of tension-type headache was 41.0%. Migraine was significantly menstrual-related (p=0.001, 95% CI=1.06-6.63). Median pain severity score was higher among MRH group (p=0.043). The median number of days of reduced productivity and missed social activities was significantly higher in the MRH group; p= 0.001 and p=0.03, respectively. Subjects with MRH were more incapacitated by their headaches (p= 0.003). Conclusion: Menstrually related headache is prevalent even among the adolescent and it has adversely affected their productivity and social life. Care of adolescent with headaches should be intensified.

Narrative review of the prevalence and distribution of acute pain in children in the self‐care setting

“…Headache was reported more frequently in girls than in boys in 13 studies where a split according to sex was available 3,18,20,22–30,33 . Indeed, in female‐only studies, the prevalence rates were higher than in the mixed‐sex studies, ranging from 67.2% to 87.7% 16,17 . There was no difference in headache prevalence between different socioeconomic groups 3,24 …”

“…In the study by Lima et al 17 , a need for pain medication was reported by 70.3% of adolescents (female‐only study), although only 26.2% sought medical attention, indicating that most subjects self‐medicated. Adebayo et al 16 noted that females with menstruation‐related headaches were significantly more likely to consult a doctor (53.8% vs 30.9%; p = 0.03) and were more likely to self‐medicate (76.9% vs 59.1%; not significant) compared with females with nonmenstruation‐related headaches. They also found that the most used medication was paracetamol (67.5% for all primary headaches).…”

“…3,18,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]33 Indeed, in female-only studies, the prevalence rates were higher than in the mixed-sex studies, ranging from 67.2% to 87.7%. 16,17 There was no difference in headache prevalence between different socioeconomic groups. 3,24 The prevalence of migraine ranged from 8.8 to 23.5% in four studies (episodic and probable migraine figures combined for Arruda et al) 14,16,17,27 ; migraine occurred more frequently during menstruation, 16,17 which is in keeping with the knowledge that F I G U R E 1 Dot plot showing prevalence estimates from individual studies for each pain type/location.…”

“…Adebayo et al 16 noted that females with menstruation-related headaches were significantly more likely to consult a doctor (53.8% vs 30.9%; p = 0.03) and were more likely to self-medicate (76.9% vs 59.1%; not significant) compared with females with nonmenstruation-related headaches. They also found that the most used medication was paracetamol (67.5% for all primary headaches).…”

“…In this analysis, some questionnaires used to assess headache were based on diagnostic criteria for headaches, such as the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)/ International Headache Society [14][15][16][17] ; the Health Behavior of Schoolaged Children (HBSC) symptom checklist [18][19][20][21][22][23] ; or other validated or previously used tools. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Prevalence estimates have previously indicated that headache is one of the most commonly reported types of pain in children.…”