Incidence of Headaches Following Traumatic Brain Injury Occur More Often in Adolescents and Girls

Every year, more than half a million U.S. children sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI). Adults who suffer TBI often report headaches afterward, but little has been reported about how often children suffer headaches following similar injuries. In “Headache After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Cohort Study,” researchers analyzed the prevalence of headaches three and 12 months after mild, moderate or severe TBI in children ages 5 to 17. They discovered the risk of headache was higher in adolescents (ages 13 to 17) as well as girls. The study was led by Heidi Blume, MD, MPH, from Seattle Children’s Research Institute and principal investigator Fred Rivara, MD, MPH, of Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington. The results were published online in Pediatrics.

The study indicates that post-TBI headaches can be a significant problem for some children (ages five to 12 years). Three months after a mild TBI, 43 percent of children reported headaches, compared to the 37 percent who suffered a moderate to severe TBI and 26 percent in the control group (patients with arm fractures). For more information, click here to read the full release.