Migraine management: How do the adult and paediatric migraines differ?

Abstract

Migraine is one of the common causes of severe and recurring headache. It may be difficult to manage in primary care settings, where it is under diagnosed and medically treated. Migraine can occur in children as well as in adults and it is three times more common in women than in men. Migraine in children is different from adults in various ways. Migraine management depends on the various factors like duration and severity of pain, associated symptoms, degree of disability, and initial response to treatment. The therapy of children and adolescents with migraines includes treatment modalities for acute attacks, prophylactic medications when the attacks are frequent, and biobehavioural modes of treatment to aid long-term management of the disorder. The long lasting outcome of childhood headaches and progression into adult headaches remains largely unknown. However, it has been suggested that adult migraine may represent a progressive disorder. In children, the progressive nature is uncertain and further investigations into longitudinal outcome and phenotypic changes in childhood headaches have yet to be recognized. Even though paediatric and adult migraines seem to be slightly different from one another, but not enough to categorize either as sole.

In child and adult migraineurs the somatosensory cortex stands out … again: An arterial spin labeling investigation

“…One question related to this is whether these changes are also present in the pediatric and young adult migraine population. This is an important question given the variants of migraine prevalence, symptoms, and treatments from pediatric through to adult populations with episodic migraine [Sonal Sekhar et al, ], a population that is less affected by disease duration.…”

Similarities and Differences Between Migraine in Children and Adults: Presentation, Disability, and Response to Treatment

“…As such, migraine treatment is often similar across age groups. Commonly used treatments for migraine in both children and adults include preventative and abortive medications, lifestyle habits, and psychological treatments [7, 12, 26, 44]. Although similar treatments are used to treat migraine in both youth and adults, existing literature suggests that this may not be the best approach for effective treatment.…”

“…These recommendations include consistent intake of food, staying hydrated, and sleeping and exercising regularly [7, 12, 26, 44]. Specifically, at minimum, food intake should include three meals a day (without skipping meals).…”

“…While such recommendations are consistent across age groups, some age-related challenges faced by adults may interfere with their ability to adhere to these practices [12]. For example, adults with migraine typically have more health-related comorbidities as a result of ageing that make it difficult for them to regularly exercise.…”

Are Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (<i>MTHFR</i>) Gene Polymorphisms C677T and A1298C Associated with Higher Risk of Pediatric Migraine in Boys and Girls?

“…Females are two to three times more likely to experience migraine than men after reaching puberty [30]. Migraine is characterized by recurrent attacks of pulsating and unilateral head pain [31].…”