Objective: To assess the characteristics and epidemiological features of pediatric migraine with aura.
Background: About 80% of children and adolescents have headache. The prevalence of migraine in children is about 8%. Approximately 15-30% of children and adolescents with migraine report of aura.
Methods: Children presenting with headache to three pediatric neurologic clinics in Haifa (Bnai Zion Hospital, Carmel Hospital and Meuhedet Medical Services) in the last 5 years were assessed. Inclusion criteria included: migraine headache in children 5-18 years of age. Data regarding: age, gender, headache classification, aura, and family history were assessed.
Results: Of the 262 children (140 female) who had migraines, 26.2% experienced aura. A greater percentage of female children experienced aura as compared to male children (32.6% vs. 18.9%, p<0.01). Children who experienced aura were older than patients who did not experience aura (13.1 vs.11.5 years, p<0.001). Females had a higher rate (66.7%) of visual aura compare to males (33.3%) (p<0.04). There was an association between family history of migraine and children experiencing aura (p<0.02) with the odds of experiencing aura 2.79 times greater in children who had a family history of migraine than children who had no family history.
Conclusions: Migraine with aura is as common in children as it is in adults. Aura is more common in females and older children. Children with family history of migraine are more likely to have aura, which should raise a question about the diagnosis of migraine without aura in every child without a family history of migraine.
