Visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials in children with headache.

BACKGROUND

Headache is a common problem in the pediatric population. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate visual evoked potentials (VEP) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in children with headache.

METHODS

Thirty-seven children fulfilling the International Headache Society Criteria for a diagnosis of migraine, 35 children with tension-type headache and 40 healthy children (control group) were enrolled in the study.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients and controls was 10.4 years. P100 latency and amplitudes of migraine patients were significantly higher than children with tension-type headache and control subjects. Children with tension-type headache also had higher P100 latency and amplitude values than control subjects but there was no statistical difference. BAEP responses were similar between all groups.

CONCLUSION

Measurement of VEP latency and amplitude is a valuable and reliable test for the diagnosis of migraine and can be used safely in childhood.