Cranial Neuralgias in Children and Adolescents A review of the literature

Abstract

Cranial neuralgias are a well-established cause of headache-related morbidity in the adult population. These disorders are poorly studied in general due to their relative rarity, particularly in children and adolescents, and they are likely underdiagnosed in these populations. Recognizing these disorders and differentiating them from more common headache disorders, such as migraine, is important, as secondary disease is common. This review will cover the basic epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of trigeminal, occipital, glossopharyngeal and other, less common, cranial neuralgias. We have reviewed pediatric case reports of these conditions. For trigeminal neuralgia, the most common of these disorders, we have compiled the clinical features and treatment response of previous reports.