Characterization of Symptoms of Sleep Disorders in Children With Headache

To investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders and their symptoms in children with headaches, 64 patients in the outpatient clinics of the University of Chicago Department of Pediatric Neurology were interviewed. Investigated disorders included excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, restlessness, and parasomnias. Unlike previous studies, subjects were compared with matched control patients by age and sex. Both headache and nonheadache groups completed a 111-item questionnaire detailing sleep symptoms and behaviors. It was found that children with headaches have a significantly higher prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy, and insomnia than children without headaches (P < 0.005), which is consistent with prior literature. A similar result was obtained in examining only migraines. However, we did not find a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms of sleep apnea, restlessness, and parasomnias, which contradicts previous literature. Also, the effect of medications taken by headache patients as a confounding factor was insignificant. Overall, pediatricians may find it beneficial to ask about daytime sleepiness, narcolepsy, and insomnia when treating a headache patient.