Abstract
Tension-type headache is a common problem in adults. In a recent study by Schwartz et al. (1), the one-year prevalence of tension-type headache was 38.3% in adults. In the study by Rasmussen et al. (2), the lifetime prevalence of tension-type headache was 66%. In the study by Göbel et al. (3), the lifetime prevalence of tension-type headache, including those who did not quite meet the criteria of the International Headache Society (4) for tension-type headache, was 38.3%.
There are no population-based studies on tension-type headache in children. However, from clinical work we know that children have tension-type headache. We can also estimate the occurrence of tension-type headache from the population-based studies on overall headache, recurrent headache, and migraine. Some recurrent or frequent non-migrainous headache is probably tension-type headache. In the study of Bille (5), the prevalence of recurrent headache was 11% and the prevalence of migraine was 4%. In the study of Sillanpää (6) in 7-year-old children, the prevalence of recurrent headache was 6% and of migraine 2%. In a recent study in the same age group, the figures were 12% and 6%, respectively (7). It seems that the prevalence of nonmigrainous recurrent headache as well as the prevalence of migraine both increase by age.
In a study from a headache clinic (8), 35% of the pediatric patients had tension-type headache.
As there are so few studies on childhood tension-type headache, we do not exactly know if the IHS criteria for tension-type headache are applicable in children, or what is the evolution of childhood tension-type headache. It would be very interesting and important to find out if children with tension-type headache become adults with tension-type headache, and if this evolution could be prevented.
The present study was conducted in the city of Turku, Finland. Its purposes were to evaluate the prevalence of tension-type headache, the applicability of the criteria and the risk factors of tension-type headache in children. A questionnaire was sent to all the children in sixth grade in the 39 schools of Turku. The children were 11–13 years old during the study. Schools for retarded children were not included in the study. The total number of children included into the study was 1409, and 81% of them returned the questionnaire. Some preliminary results are presented.