Epidemiological and clinical features of migraine in the pediatric population of Northern Italy

Abstract

We describe the characteristics of pediatric migraine based on the ICHD-II criteria, showing a likely significant loss of diagnoses using the ICHD-III beta. The incidence of migraine increases with age. MO occurs more commonly and shows more frequent attacks and a higher prevalence of associated symptoms, in particular osmophobia. Although males are prevalent in the entire sample, the proportion of females is higher among patients with MA in all of the age groups. Phenotype and sexual prevalence of migraine acquire adult characteristics and become more frequent in females from the onset of puberty.