THE COURSE OF PEDIATRIC HEADACHES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction:Because of the asymptomatic nature of pediatric COVID-19 infection, the relationship between COVID-19 and pediatric headache is still unknown. In this study we tried to determine characteristics of COVID-19 related headaches in pediatric patients. Material and method: Pediatric patients who visited Ankara City Hospital Pediatric Neurology Clinic between December 2020 and April 2021 with recurring headache and their COVID-19 serology results has been evaluated retrospectively. Demographics and headache characteristics (such as duration, location, headache type, triggering factors etc) has been evaluated. Results: 45 patients with newly appearing headache during pandemic was included to study. 18 patients were COVID-19 serology positive (group I) , 27 of them were serology negative (group II). Group I’s average age was 12.7±3,9, group II’s average age was 12,9±4,1. Beginning of headache was 5,9±4,7 months ago for group I and 4,7±4,3 months ago for group II. Pulsating headache was %83 for group I and %77 for group II. Throbbing and compressive headache was relatively rare for both groups. Headache was unilateral in 11 patients for group I and 21 patients for group II. In both groups frequency of headache was 1-2 times per week. Duration of headache was 8,6±3,1 hours for group I and 10,2±3,9 hours for group II. Headache often had migraine characteristics for both groups of pediatric patients. Discussion: COVID-19 related headache in adults is usually bilateral, has longer duration, more often seen in males and resistant to analgesics. Our study that revealed different results from adult studies may have important contributions to literature.
Keywords: Headache, COVID-19, pediatric, migraine