Objective: In this study we aimed to determine clinical characteristics of headache, psycho-social factors increasing the headache, and individual and social effects of headache in the adult and teenagers population living in our city.
Material and Methods: The study was performed on 306 teenagers and 195 adults between 1 December 2004 and 31 March 2005. Standardized questionnaire form was filled by all participants. The International Headache Society criteria were used for headache diagnosis.
Results: In our study, in adults, tension type headache and migraine ratio was 58,5% and 41,5%, whereas in teenagers, tension type headache and migraine ratio was 84,6% and 11,1%, respectively. In our study, male to female ratio was found to be 1:1,37 and 1:1,09 in teenagers and adults, respectively. Headache in women rather than men was more often, longer-lasting, more severe and more associated with other symptoms. Frequency of the headache attacks ranged from 1 to 8 attacks/month and it was frequently concentrated to 1 to 3 attacks/month in both groups. All participants stated that they did not feel headache beforehand and it had started suddenly. In our study, the most symptoms accompanying to headache was weakness and phonophobia in both groups and, the stress was the most important reason for headache in both groups. Headache was evidently affecting education performance in teenagers, while it did not cause to remain from the job in adults.
Conclusion: Headache has negatively affected either teenagers or adults in our city. More comprehensive and larger-scale studies are needed for our city.
Key Words: Headache; Tension Type Headache; Migraine.
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