Idiopathic stabbing headache in the juvenile population: a clinical study and review of the literature

Byline: Vincenzo Raieli (1), Giovanni Luca Eliseo (1), Michela La Vecchia (1), Girolama La Franca (1), Eleonora Pandolfi (1), Domenico Puma (1), Donatella Ragusa (1), Mario Eliseo (1) Keywords: Key words Stabbing headache; Juvenile population; Short paroxysms Abstract: Idiopathic stabbing headache is a not well known type of pain, and few reports have described the disorder in juvenile age. We report a sample of 30 juvenile patients with clinical features of stabbing headache after having excluded other pain disorders. We observed the presence of psychological features and the lack of association with migraine, unlike in the adult form. Some patients needed pharmacological treatment but the prognosis was good. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of pain and possible triggering factors. Author Affiliation: (1) Division of Child Neuropsychiatry, G. Ingrassia Hospital, AUSL 6, Via Gaetano La Loggia 3, I-90129 Palermo, Italy, e-mail: vinzi.raielk@inwind.it, Tel.: +39-091-7033275, Fax: +39-091-7033253, IT Article note: Received: 6 November 2001 / Accepted in revised form: 14 January 2002