Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background: Headache is one of the most popular clinical presentations especially in children. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of migraine and tension headache and its related factors among the students of Guidance schools in

Yazd city.

Methods: It was a descriptive and cross-sectional study implemented in 2008 in

Yazd city. The study group consisted of 930 school children. Data was gathered with a questionnaire based on International Criteria for Headache Disease (ICHD) that was invented by International Headache Symposium (IHS). Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-square test and Logistic regression.

Results: Among 930 cases studied 114 (12.3%) had migraine and 39 (4.2%) had tension headache. There was significant relationship between migraine and sex (p=0.002), and migraine and age (p=0.029). In patients with insomnia the prevalence of migraine and tension headache was 21% and 6.6%, respectively and significant in case of migraine (p=0.005). The prevalence of positive familial history was 13.8% in migraine group (p-0.007) and 5.1% in tension headache group (p=0.005) that was significant in both group. Also 26.6% of patients with migraine reported absence from school (p=0.00). Visual and somatic aura were significant in migraine (p=0.005 and p=0.001, respectively). Meanwhile, 26.5%of patients with migraine were visited by physician (p=0.00), but only 4% (p=0.159) of patients with tension headache reported this history.

Conclusion: The result of the study shows that migraine headache generally is severing and can cause absence from school and failure in school studies. Based on this study we recommend detecting the children with migraine headache and educating them the related prevention and coping methods. When needed, they can be referred to a specialist for drug treatment.