EEG Indices in Children with Primary Headache Disorders

Both episodic migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) are characterized by attacks of strong headache. There is growing evidence that the brain functions are abnormal even within between-attack periods. We tried to evaluate interictal brain functions in children with primary headache using quantitative EEG. Sixty patients were recruited, 25 children with migraine and 35 with TTH. Patients were classified according to the ICHD. Migraine patients had significantly higher relative spectral powers of slow-wave bands (theta and delta) and decreased alpha relative powers in most of the regions examined than those in TTH patients. Apart from the above-mentioned specificities and negative correlation of age with the powers of delta and theta bands in both groups, we could not find other clinical variables that appeared to significantly affect EEG indices. Our results support that interictal brain dysfunction is, in general, more typical of migraine patients. These results shall help to contribute to better management and brain protection in children with headache.