Intractable Chronic Migraine in Adolescent: Multidisciplinary Approach

Migraine is a primary headache, with prevalent onset in juvenile age, highly disabling and affecting approximately 12% of the general population (in pediatric age: from 3% in younger school-age children to 15 20% in older adolescents with 0.2-0.5% of chronic migraine). [1,2] Epidemiological studies have highlighted its high prevalence and significant social and economic importance. Migraine is the most common cause in the world of pain in school-age children and it has been noted that its prevalence grows in tandem with the child’s age. [3] The fluctuation of hormonal parameters may have a role in the onset of the disease. In fact, below the pubertal era it is more common in the male, above it becomes more common in the female gender, as well as in the adult. Migraine can seriously affect quality of life, school or work attendance, study performance and even socialization with peers in children [4-6]. For all these reasons its social impact is enormous. Migraine is the seventh-highest cause of disability worldwide [7-8].