Central health problem: Headaches at school
Migraines affect children's school performance
Headaches are the most common and serious health problem among schoolchildren . This has already been confirmed by previous data from schools in Schleswig-Holstein. Children with migraines experience difficulties at school more often than children without migraines. The urgency of the problem is now further confirmed by a new study published in the renowned medical journal "Neurology" in October of this year. Numerous studies have already demonstrated that good academic performance influences later career prospects, quality of life, and financial income. When migraines negatively impact academic performance, they can significantly and negatively affect the future of the children concerned. The study underscores the importance of migraine treatment for the individual's entire life and the seriousness of migraines for society.
The research group led by Dr. Daniel Kantor investigated the impact of migraines on academic performance. Therefore, two key sources of information were interviewed: the students' teachers and their parents. The teachers were surveyed using validated questionnaires that analyzed children's emotional and behavioral difficulties. The parents were interviewed about their children's health, the occurrence of headaches, and other relevant information. Approximately 25 percent of the students suffered from migraines, and some individuals with chronic migraines were also found within the group.
The study examined 5,671 children between the ages of five and twelve. Overall, 0.6% of the children suffered from chronic migraine, meaning migraine that occurs more than fifteen days per month. Episodic migraine was diagnosed in 9% of the children. A further 17.6% of the children met all but one criterion for a migraine diagnosis. The study showed that children with migraine were 30% more likely to exhibit below-average academic performance than children without headaches. Children with migraine also had more frequent absences from school due to illness than their classmates without migraine.
The link between migraines and poorer academic performance increased further with more intense, longer-lasting, chronic, or nausea-associated migraines. Migraines in childhood can therefore have a lasting negative impact on academic performance.
Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of migraines are crucial for existing headaches. With an average prevalence of one-quarter of schoolchildren suffering from migraines, this is a serious societal problem, especially for children who experience frequent and severe attacks. Teachers and parents must take this condition seriously and ensure that these children receive targeted and timely specialized medical treatment.
Further information about the study can be found here.
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