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Post-traumatic Headache in Children and Adolescents

  • Concussion and Head Injury (A Finkel, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Post-traumatic headache is a common disorder in the pediatric age group, seen both by child neurologists and by non-neurologists. The current review of post-traumatic headache in children and adolescents aims to review the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical features, neuroimaging, and both acute and preventive treatment options.

Recent Findings

Recent literature provides insight into specific risk factors in the pediatric age group for developing post-traumatic headache as well as unique pathophysiologic changes seen in neuroimaging and neurometabolic pathways. It also elucidates common treatment options and novel treatments being currently explored, such as with monoclonal antibodies to CGRP. Finally, current evidence and guidelines recommend the benefit of a gradual return to normal activity based on symptom stability rather than a specific time period.

Summary

Review of literature on pediatric post-traumatic headache reveals a growing understanding of the factors involved in developing headache after head trauma and the diagnosis/treatment of headache though future research will help further elucidate these areas.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 500 S Preston St, 113-a HSC, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Elizabeth Doll, Paul Gong & Michael Sowell

  2. Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY, USA

    Lauren Evanczyk

Authors
  1. Elizabeth Doll
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  2. Paul Gong
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  3. Michael Sowell
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  4. Lauren Evanczyk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul Gong.

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Conflict of Interest

Michael Sowell, Paul Gong, and Lauren Evanczyk declare that they have no conflict of interest. Elizabeth Doll reports performing clinical research with fremanezumab in the pediatric population.

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All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki Declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Concussion and Head Injury

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Doll, E., Gong, P., Sowell, M. et al. Post-traumatic Headache in Children and Adolescents. Curr Pain Headache Rep 25, 51 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-021-00967-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-021-00967-y

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