What is a migraine?

  Migraine is a common disease in children, and its incidence increases with age until adolescence, from 3% in 3-7 years old to 4%-11% in 7-11 years old, and the incidence reaches 8%-23% in 11-15 years old. The mean age of onset was 7.2 years for boys and 10.9 years for girls.  The evaluation of recurrent headache in children should begin with a thorough history and family history taking, followed by a thorough examination of vital signs, especially blood pressure and a thorough neurological examination, including fundus examination.  The diagnosis of primary headache in children is mainly based on the clinical diagnostic criteria published by the International Headache Society (IHS) (1988).In 2004, the IHS published a revised International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), which is divided into primary (including migraine with/without aura) and secondary headache disorders.The diagnostic criteria for migraine without aura in children are shown in Table 1.For younger children, the 1988 IHS criteria are are more restrictive, whereas the 2nd edition ICHD criteria incorporate more developmentally relevant conditions. Uniform diagnostic criteria for migraine in children are critical for clinical care and research.