Medication overuse headache in children and adolescents

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2014 Apr;18(4):404. doi: 10.1007/s11916-014-0404-9.

Abstract

Medication overuse headache can be described as a chronic headache, presenting 15 or more days per month, in a patient who abuses symptomatic drugs. It has been called an unrecognized epidemic; this is in part true for adults, but is certainly so for children and adolescents. This paper reviews existing data concerning epidemiology, etiopathogenesis and treatment options, with a focus on pediatric age. This leads to evidence of a relevant number of still unanswered questions and some possible strategies to help children and adolescents with this disabling disorder.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / administration & dosage*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Headache Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Headache Disorders / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic