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Pharmacotherapy for Persistent Posttraumatic Headaches in Children and Adolescents: A Brief Review of the Literature

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Abstract

Concussion, now most often referred to as mild traumatic brain injury in recent literature, is common in pediatrics, and headache is often the most common complaint post-injury. Although most children and adolescents recover within 1–2 weeks, some develop frequent and debilitating headaches that can last for months or longer. Most clinicians would agree on the importance of managing both acute and persistent posttraumatic headaches appropriately to speed recovery, minimize disability, maximize function, and improve quality of life, but there are no well-established guidelines to instruct physicians in doing so. As this continues to be a developing field, there is much we still need to learn about concussion and the appropriate strategies to prevent and treat these injuries and their sequelae. This review is intended to help providers understand the current evidence, and sometimes the lack thereof, and ultimately to lead to improved care for children with headaches after mild traumatic brain injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, MLC 2015, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3039, USA

    Joanne Kacperski

  2. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Joanne Kacperski

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Correspondence to Joanne Kacperski.

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No funding was received for the preparation of this review.

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Joanne Kacperski has no conflicts of interest to report.

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Kacperski, J. Pharmacotherapy for Persistent Posttraumatic Headaches in Children and Adolescents: A Brief Review of the Literature. Pediatr Drugs 20, 385–393 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-018-0299-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-018-0299-8

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