Primary stabbing "ice-pick" headache

Abstract

Primary stabbing "ice-pick" headache is rarely reported in children. It is characterized by transient, sharp stabbing pain that occurs within a localized area of the scalp for seconds. Five children were diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders Diagnostic Criteria, Second Edition. Ages at diagnosis ranged from 6-16 years (mean age, 9.8 years), with signs lasting for 3-12 months (mean, 6.5 months) before assessment. All children presented with recurrent daily to monthly headaches that were very brief, lasting for seconds. The headache was orbital in one child, temporal in one child, and occipital in three children. Three children manifested other associated migraine headache types, and two had a positive family history of migraine. Amitriptyline was prescribed to two patients because of headache frequency and severity. The signs gradually subsided in all patients during follow-up of 3 months to 5 years (mean, 27 months). Primary stabbing headache may occasionally occur in children with features different from those encountered in adults. The headache is less frequent and often occipital in location. Its signs respond well to amitriptyline. However, larger prospective pediatric studies are needed to describe this syndrome further.