Headache in children with Tourette syndrome.

Abstract

The authors analyzed the frequency of occurrence of headaches in children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome (TS) to address their possible inclusion as a comorbidity. Using a prospective questionnaire, administered directly, we interviewed a total sample size of 109 patients with TS ≤ 21 years of age. The questionnaires were then analyzed according to the International Headache Society's diagnostic criteria. We found headaches to be present in 55% of the patients, with the 2 most common headache types being migraine headaches and tension-type headaches. The rate of migraine headache within the TS group was found to be 4 times greater than that of the general pediatric population, as reported in the literature. In addition, the rate of tension-type headache was found to be more than 5 times greater than that of the general pediatric population. Overall, the high rates of migraine and tension-type headache within this population support the proposition that headaches are a comorbidity of TS.