Cefalea en niños y adolescentes

Headache is a public health problem which presents challenges in diagnosis and therapy. In epidemiologic reports, headache prevalence in children to years old is 30 percent. Prevalence for migraine is to The International Headache Society Classification has now included pediatric criteria for migraine diagnosis. Main differences with adults are: duration, laterality and associated symptoms like photo and/or phonophobia. Classification according to the temporal profile includes categories such as: acute headache, acute recurrent headache, chronic progressive and chronic non progressive headache. The mixed-pattern refers to presentation with more than one type of headache. Physiopathology of pain and modulating system is described and analysis is made of different theories (muscular, vascular and neurogenic) to understand the principal causes of headaches. The clue of headache diagnosis is the clinic history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Treatment involves non pharmacological approaches (education, prevention, trigger avoidance), and medication. There are not enough studies in children, so the establishment of headache clinics will allow a multidisciplinary approach, the application of defined protocols and interaction with other specialties in more complex cases.