Whitney Robyn, Borys Oksana, Callen David J A, Latchman Andrew
Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Pediatr Neurol. 2015 Feb;52(2):214-7.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.09.011. Epub 2014 Sep 28.
Migraine affects approximately 4%-11% of elementary school children; yet reaching a diagnosis in this age group can be challenging. The goal of this study was to develop a screening migraine questionnaire that could be easily implemented by a general pediatrician and validate its use in diagnosing migraine in children 5-12 years old.
A questionnaire, the McMaster Migraine Tool, was developed using the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria for migraine. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed by comparing the diagnosis based on the results of the questionnaire compared with the diagnosis made by a pediatric neurologist.
The questionnaire was used to assess a cohort of 69 children referred to the Pediatric Neurology Clinic for headache. The sensitivity and specificity of the McMaster Migraine Tool were determined to be 84% and 69%, respectively. Families graded its ease of use to be 9 of 10 (10 being easy to use).
The McMaster Migraine Tool may be useful in diagnosing migraine in 5-12-year-old children, as it is readily completed and regarded as easy to use. Application of this tool could lead to expedited diagnosis and management of migraine.
