Prevalence of Interictal Headache in Patients with Epilepsy

Abstract

Objectives: Epilepsy and headache are common paroxysmal neurological disorders. Headache can occasionally be the sole symptom of a seizure. In addition, postictal headaches frequently occur after complex partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of interictal headache in patients with epilepsy presenting at an outpatient epilepsy clinic. Methods: This prospective study included 86 adult patients who were diagnosed with epilepsy and followed up at a neurology clinic. Results: A total of 86 patients with epilepsy (54 females, 32 males) were included. The type of headache in 41 (47.6%) patients was a tension-type headache (TTH) (n=14, 16.3%), migraine with aura (n=12, 13.9%), migraine without aura (n=11, 12.8%), TTH + stabbing headache (n=1, 1.2%), cluster headache (1.2%), and other primary headaches (n=2, 2.4%). Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy often have headaches, particularly a migraine headache. Headache in patients with epilepsy may be overlooked during follow-up in the outpatient clinic setting, and this can adversely affect the quality of life of these patients.