ED and Inpatient Management of Headache in Children and Adolescents.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pediatric migraine is common, and appropriate abortive treatment is important to limit impact on school performance and mental health. This review will describe the latest evidence for abortive treatment in the emergency department and inpatient settings.

RECENT FINDINGS: It is recognized that a protocol for emergency department treatment can increase efficacy and prevent admissions. These protocols commonly include a non-opioid analgesic and dopamine receptor antagonist. A novel approach to treatment with valproic acid is use of a continuous infusion. Administration of ketamine or propofol and peripheral nerve blocks could add more expedited treatment options to the armamentarium for pediatric migraine. There is increasing variety in the abortive treatment of pediatric migraine, but continued research is necessary for validation of these approaches.