Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of headaches in a school-based, community setting and to determine the impact of headache symptoms on the health of children. Methods: After institutional review board approval, a prospective cohort study was conducted at two Chicago public schools for a period of 6 months. Members of the research team surveyed both schools weekly for headache and other pain symptoms. The students rated each pain symptom on a 5-point scale from 0 (" not at all" ) to 4 (" a whole lot" ). Demographic information was collected at the time of enrollment, and all participants were asked to complete age-appropriate and validated pediatric surveys to assess the severity of concurrent somatic complaints, anxiety symptoms, functional limitations, and quality of life issues. Results: Of the participating children, 89.5% reported at least one headache during the study period. Females experienced more frequent headaches compared with males (P < 0.05). Children reporting headaches had a significantly increased risk of experiencing other troubling somatic symptoms (P < 0.05). Headache severity showed a moderate correlation with increased feelings of anxiety, functional disability, and a diminished quality of life (P < 0.05). Conclusions: School-aged children commonly experience headaches. Children experiencing headaches are more likely to report other somatic symptoms, feelings of anxiety, functional limitations, and quality of life impairments.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 214-221 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Pain Practice |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2010 |
Keywords
- Anxiety
- Children
- Functional disability
- Headaches
- Prevalence
- Quality of life
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine