A case report of an adolescent with cluster headaches following neck trauma: Coincidence or trigger?

Cluster Headache: Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment in Pediatric Headache

Despite its rarity, cluster headache can affect children. Patients with cluster headaches often experience symptoms in their adolescence, but the time it takes for a correct diagnosis can be very long. Cluster headache can be mistaken for other pathologies, which can result in patients being diagnosed and treated incorrectly. CH therapy often represents a challenge in pediatric age as there are no studies dedicated to this age category and the therapy strategy is generally based on data from adult experience. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the current literature on cluster headache in children and adolescents.

Cluster headache in children and adolescents: a systematic review of case reports

AIM

To describe the clinical characteristics and therapeutic options available to paediatric patients with cluster headache.

METHOD

Based on a literature search of the medical databases PubMed, LILACS, and Web of Science and using selected descriptors, we carried out a systematic review of case reports on cluster headache in paediatric patients published from 1990 to 2020.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients (29 males, 22 females) with a mean (SD) age of 9 years 7 months (3y 10mo; range 2-16y) were diagnosed with cluster headache. The mean (SD) diagnosis was made 27.8 months (26.2mo) after the onset of cluster headache. Pain occurred at night or on waking up (76.5%) and consisted of 1 to 3 attacks per day (62.7%) lasting 30 to 120 minutes (68.6%). Headaches were unilateral (90.2%), had a pulsatile character (64.7%), and severe intensity (100%). There were autonomic manifestations (90.2%) predominantly ipsilateral to pain, in this order: lacrimation; conjunctival injection; nasal congestion; ptosis; eyelid oedema; and rhinorrhoea. Sumatriptan and oxygen inhalation were the most effective treatments for acute manifestation. Prophylaxis, corticosteroids, verapamil, and gabapentin were the most effective drugs.

INTERPRETATION

Due to the small number of published studies, this review could not provide reliable data; however, it appears that cluster headache in children and adolescents is similar to adults, both in clinical characteristics and treatment. What this paper adds Cluster headache in children and adolescents is poorly studied. Cluster headache is uncommon before 10 years of age and diagnosis is difficult in the first few years of life. Treatment of cluster headache in children and adolescents is similar to that used in adults. The notion of the effectiveness of prophylactic treatment is based only on authors' experience.

Cefaleia em Salvas em Crianças e Adolescentes: Uma revisão sistemática de relatos de casos

OBJETIVO

Descrever as características clínicas e as melhores opções terapêuticas para cefaleia em salvas na idade pediátrica. MÉTODO: Com base em pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados médicos PubMed, LiLacs e WoS e usando descritores selecionados, analisamos todos os relatos de casos de cefaleia em salvas em idade pediátrica publicados de 1990 a 2020.

RESULTADOS

Cinquenta e um pacientes (29 meninos e 22 meninas) com idade média (DP) de 9 anos e 7 meses (3 anos e 10 meses), variando de 2 a 16 anos, foram diagnosticados com cefaleia em salvas. O diagnóstico médio (DP) foi feito 27,8 meses (26,2 meses) após o início da cefaleia em salvas. A dor ocorreu à noite ou ao despertar (76,5%), uma a três crises por dia (62,7%), com duração de 30-120 minutos (68,6%), localizada unilateralmente (90,2%), de caráter pulsátil (64,7%) e intensidade severa (100%). Houve manifestações autonômicas (90,2%), predominantemente ipsilaterais à dor, nesta ordem: lacrimejamento, injeção conjuntival, congestão nasal, ptose, edema palpebral e rinorreia. Sumatriptano e inalação de oxigênio foram os tratamentos agudos mais eficazes. Na profilaxia, corticosteroides, verapamil e gabapentina foram os medicamentos mais eficazes. INTERPRETAÇÃO: Devido ao pequeno número de estudos publicados, esta revisão não foi capaz de fornecer dados confiáveis, mas parece que a cefaleia em salvas em crianças e adolescentes é semelhante à do adulto, tanto nas características clínicas quanto no tratamento.