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

AimThe aim of this article is to analyze the epidemiological and clinical features of migraine in a pediatric headache center.MethodsA retrospective study was performed over six years. Hospital record databases were screened for the diagnosis of migraine with aura (MA) or without aura (MO), based on the ICHD-II criteria. Statistical analysis: Fisher’s test or Mann-Whitney U test, significance at p < 0.05.ResultsMigraine was diagnosed in 495 children (29.7% MA, 70.3% MO). The majority of diagnoses were made between ages 9 and 14 years. After stratification for age into five groups, we observed an increase of diagnoses in females, with a peak after the age of 15 years, and an increase of MA. In both groups, the attacks were usually severe, infrequent (<1–3/month) lasting <2 hours, and associated with nausea/vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia (more frequent in MO). Osmophobia was reported in 24.7% of the patients with MO. Dizziness was more frequent in patients with MA. Visual auras were the most common occu...