Headache in children and young people, an increasingly frequent disorder caused by stress, bad habits and familiarity

According to theWHO, headache represents a highly disabling pathologyin the first places between neurological pathologies in terms of social and health costs. «It must therefore not be considered a niche pathology, but one condition capable of impacting on the general level of the Health», He underlines Marina De Tommaso, president of the Italian Society Studio Cefalee.

It is estimated that in Italy today are more than 7 million People who suffer from migraine, who in 90% of cases arise before the age of 40 and also affects young and very young, in fact the 50-75% of children and adolescents suffered at least once of headache.
“In recent years, that of headaches in boys and girls is a disorder increased of 10 – 20%”explains the Dr. Claudia Bondone, director of the urgent pediatrics of the Regina Margherita Infantile Hospital of the City of Health and Science of Turin, where a Cefalee center of the evolutionary age (relating precisely to the pediatrics of urgency) which adheres to the initiatives that the Italian Society for the study of headaches (Sisc) organizes in more than 30 Italian cities In collaboration with the SItalian ociety of neurology (SIN) and with the contribution of the Italian Society of General Medicine (Simg) and of theCefalalgical alliance (Al.ce)on the occasion of the National headache day, which occurs on May 18th. “Surely the puberty remains a critical point for both sexes, albeit more evidently for girls (which often complain of migraine in the menstrual period)however in our reality we often see very small children who already have Episodes of headaches “continues Dr. Bondone. “Precisely for this reason, to Queen Margherita of Turin, for several years, we have a headache center specialized in the diagnosis of the pathology of headaches from pediatric age to eighteen years”.

The most common triggering factors in teenagers

“Stress and lifestyles These are the causes that have impactful most and impact on the increase in cases of cases. We know that ours guys are generally more stressed and have more complicated and more demanding days than previous generationsare continually urged from devices like the mobile phone And from social networks. Finally, teenagers do not pay attention to a correct one sleep hygiene or keep onebalanced feeding And well -distributed: often jump breakfast or alternate fasting with periods of binge eating.

Again, the headaches in the boys can derive from a period particularly crowded with school commitments: checks, questions, exams. Then there has always existed the factor of the Familiarity: one of the First causes headache in boys and girls who come to emergency room. However, Bondone says, “it is precisely when there is a familiarity that we doctors are quieter: because we know that within the family of the child/boy the headache is present And therefore probably that little patient suffers as their grandparents have already suffered from it rather than their parents. It is good to remember that the “family” headaches can also debut in the boys and in very young girls, around four years old: Sometimes the headache of a child who goes to kindergarten can be the symptom of a headache of family origin who will remain the whole of life and as such it must be treated ».

The alarm bells symptom of gravity

Little Child Being Sick and Holding Her Hand Pressed Against Her Foreheadgrinvalds

You have to be particularly attentive to the Type of headaches. «Because if there is no familiarity, in fact, this disorder can be the indicator of a pathology much more important. When a headache suddenly arises in a very small child, this is a alarm bell to which you must pay attention. Often the children who warn this disorder are brought to the first beaten in the first aid, but in these cases it needs to make one accurate medical evaluation and also more in -depth investigations To exclude a possible endocenic disease (such as brain tumors, brain abscesses or complications from brain infections): for example eye visits or head resonances. It is important Don’t make alarmism But at the same time evaluate and with greater Attention The youngest children », Bondone still specifies. At every age of the child or boy, it is also appropriate to request an IMmediata medical examination In cases where the headache has a sudden worsening over a few hours and/or is accompanied by sleepiness, vomiting, loss of consciousness.

Invalidating headache: treatments and therapies

“Sometimes in the evolutionary age, as moreover in adulthood, headache becomes difficult to treat because it can become a lot persistent And disturbingso the kids begin to be test In continuing their daily life: going to school, studying, doing sports », explains Bondone. «In these cases, the therapeutic approach, in addition to providing generic anti -resistance, must be based on Personalized therapies according to the medical evaluation of the patient. Also, read on the website Headaches«Parents are a precious resource for the doctor, because they know their children and can carefully observe them to identify the characteristicsfirst of all the frequency: a sporadic headache can happen to anyone and at any time, but headache attacks that tend to repeat themselves at increasingly close intervals require attention: an acute headache, in fact, can become chronic, and this is precisely the evolution that it is good to contrast immediately “.

Centers for headache in the evolutionary age: where to contact Italy?

The headquarters of the evolutionary age of Queen Margherita of Turin, who has as responsible for the Dr. Versace and who presents an important case of approximately 500 visits to the year of children with headachedirectly affirms to the Italian Society for the study of headachesto which the national network of headache centers dedicated to children and teenagers in evolutionary age, and who are active at most pediatric hospitals, also heads.
The network includes over 30 centers in as many hospital facilities, all info here .