Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Li-Ju Lai, Wei-Hsiu Hsu, Mei-Yang Chen, Yo-Ping Hung and Wei-Chih Hsu
Background: Pediatric headache is a multifactorial disease and may lead to substantial levels of disability. However, the ophthalmological factors in pediatric headache remained unclear. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of ophthalmological factors in pediatric headache in Taiwan.
Design: Retrospective, population based, cross-sectional study.
Participants: 2727 children, between age of 7 to15, in Yu-Lin and Chia-Yi counties, Taiwan, during the health promotion examination were included during 2012~2014.
Methods: General health examinations, including body weight, body height, visual acuity, and skeletal development, were recorded. Headache was assessed by questionnaire. The ocular alignment was measured by cover-and-uncover test. Ocular height, and head position were measured utilizing photographs of children in front of the modified Amsler grid.
Main outcome measures: The risk factors for pediatric headache were analyzed using univariate and multivariate comparisons.
Results: The prevalence of headache increased from 5.2% at the age of 7-9 group to 9.3% at the age of 10-12 group, and became 17.9% at the age of 13-15 group. Girls have a higher prevalence rate than boys (1.4:1). Headache was not associated with body height, body weight, or sleep duration. Head-roll and asymmetric ocular height were the significant predictors for the headache (p<0.001, 95% CI: 2.261-3.744; p=0.01, 95% CI 1.085- 1.822, respectively). Children with myopia were at higher risk of headache then children with hyperopia and emmetropia (p=0.001, 95% CI 1.197- 2.059). Anisometropia was not related to headache.
Conclusions: Asymmetric ocular height and head roll resulted in excessive muscle strain around neck and head, which could contribute to headache. Adequate ophthalmological examination is suggested in assessing children with pediatric headache.