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Doctors newspaper online, 24.07.2019
survey
© tzidanic / iStock / Thinkstock
BERLIN. More than two-thirds of children and adolescents in Germany have regular headaches.
Among the high school students, the proportion is even close to 80 percent, as revealed by an investigation ( Cephalalgia 2019; 39: 1030-1040 ). However, only a few sought a doctor.
"This shows that headaches are not perceived as a 'real' disease in our society," according to a statement from the German Neurological Society (DGN) on the study.
Headache already represented a relevant health problem in childhood and adolescence and should be treated in time by a doctor.
Over 5000 students interviewed
Between March 2015 and March 2016, 5419 students were interviewed who attended a primary or secondary school in Dresden. 2706 answered the questionnaire and gave it to the evaluation. It was ascertained how often in the past three months headaches occurred, in what strength and what measures were taken.
Just under 32 percent of respondents said they did not have a headache at all, almost 37 percent had a headache once a month, just under 32 percent even more than twice a month.
The latter group was further investigated: 55 percent had headaches 2-5 days a month, 27 percent 5-10 days. 7 percent even reported having headaches for more than 15 days a month.
It was also noticeable that the frequency of headaches varied with the type of school: in primary schools almost 64 percent of the students regularly had headaches, in high schools almost 68 and in secondary schools almost 80 percent. Overall, girls were more affected than boys.
Rarely to the doctor
624 children and adolescents said they were taking analgesics or homeopathic remedies for pain; in acute headache attacks, the most commonly used agents were ibuprofen (49 percent) and paracetamol (32 percent).
In the group that suffered from headaches once a month, just under a fifth took painkillers, and in the group that had headaches more than twice a month, nearly half said they regularly take painkillers.
It was noticeable that almost all children who had headaches only once a month and about 80 percent of those who had headaches more than twice a month had not consulted a doctor.
Professor Hans-Christoph Diener of the DGN sees this as an aberration. "The advertising of painkillers suggests that everyone can treat their headaches themselves and you do not need a diagnosis from the doctor. This is certainly wrong, a migraine is treated differently than a cluster headache, "Diener is quoted in the message.
He also warns against a thoughtless use of painkillers, as headache medications, if taken frequently, can in turn cause and intensify headaches. "In childhood, the foundation is laid for a lax attitude towards painkillers, which can then lead to painkiller overuse in later phases of life," Diener says.
Serious illness!
Study author Private lecturer Gudrun Goßrau emphasizes that the unwillingness to seek medical treatment also reflects a lack of awareness of headaches as a serious illness in our society. According to the study, over a fifth of all children and adolescents who had headaches more than twice a month are more likely to miss school because of headaches.
"Headaches often lead to a vicious circle. School miscarriages can lead to loss of performance, school failure, school fear, many affected children are socially isolated, and the risk of depression is increased, "reports Goßrau. All the more important is a timely medical diagnosis and individual therapy.
Professor Ulrike Schara, president of the Society for Neuropaediatrics, points out that the increase in headache rates in children in recent years is more likely to be due to no genetic factors. Rather, lifestyle factors are likely to play a significant role.
"In addition to alcohol, caffeine, smoking and lack of physical activity, school stress and emotional stress (for example due to family conflicts) are considered common causes of headache. At these points, a general social prevention strategy must begin ", said Schara. (eb)
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