Medication Overuse Headache in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary headache disorder that occurs in patients with pre-existing primary headache disorders who frequently use acute headache medications. While management strategies for MOH have been increasingly studied in adults, there remains limited data guiding diagnosis and treatment in children and adolescents. This review summarizes recent evidence on the epidemiology, medication patterns, and management strategies for pediatric MOH and compares these findings with the adult literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Through our literature search over the past 5 years, we revealed only 2 studies evaluating treatment strategies in MOH in pediatrics. Recent epidemiologic studies of pediatric MOH revealed an increased impact to quality of life, time spent in ictal state, and absenteeism compared to peers with other primary headache disorders. Despite its impact on quality of life and school attendance, pediatric MOH remains understudied. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine optimal treatment strategies and improve evidence-based management in this population.