The Efficacy of Treatment According to Electroencephalogram Findings in Children and Adolescents with Recurrent Primary Headache

Joo, Jung Yeon; Rho, Young Il; Lee, Jae Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
We investigated the impact of treatment on electroencephalogram (EEG) findings, and determined treatment efficacy according to EEG findings and antiepileptic drugs in children and adolescents with recurrent headaches.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 131 patients, aged 5-18 years, with recurrent primary headaches and performed EEG study who visited the Chosun University Hospital Department of Pediatrics from January 2014 to December 2016. Headaches were classified according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-III (ICHD-III, beta version), and EEGs were analyzed for changes after treatment for primary headache.
RESULTS
Among 131 patients, we successfully collected completed all the data on 30 patients (18 boys, 12 girls). The frequency of abnormal EEG findings before treatment was not significantly different according to the type of primary headache (P= 0.390). The mean frequency (P=0.001), duration (P=0.002), and intensity of headaches (P < 0.001), and disability due to headache (P=0.003) were significantly decreased after treatment in patients with epileptiform discharges on EEG. The mean frequency and intensity of headaches and disability due to headache (P < 0.005) was also significantly decreased in the patients with both slow and normal EEG findings. The mean frequency (P=0.007), duration (P=0.01), and intensity (P < 0.001) of headaches, and disability due to headache (P=0.002) were significantly decreased after treatment with antiepileptic drugs in patients with epileptiform discharges.
CONCLUSION
Abnormal EEG findings were no significant differences in terms of type of primary headaches. Our results suggest that antiepileptic drugs may alleviate headaches in patients with epileptiform discharges on EEG.