Updates in Pediatric Headache Diagnosis and Treatments

Headache is a very common reason for pediatric and adolescent patients to be seen for care. Most headaches in children are benign or the result of a primary headache disorder. Some are due to a more serious underlying condition – how do we discern? This lecture will update providers with the most recent recommendations for diagnosis and management of pediatric headache, including behavioral and non-pharmaceutical therapies.

Learning objectives

1. Review the signs and symptoms of worrisome secondary headaches and common primary headache disorders.
2. Describe evidenced-based behavioral approaches to treating youth with chronic migraine and how to help describe these interventions to patients.
3. Discuss techniques for harnessing the brain's power to heal itself through stress-reduction and self-care.
4. Define the 2019 guidelines for the use of acute and preventive therapies for migraine, and outline practical strategies for initial management in primary care.
5. Describe how additional strategies such as physical therapy and acupuncture can integrate with the strategies above to improve patient outcomes.

Agenda

• 6:00 – 6:05 p.m. Introduction – Donna Stephenson, MD, Moderator
• 6:05 – 6:30 p.m. Headache Diagnosis: When to Worry? When to Scan? - Christina Szperka, MD, MSCE, FAHS
• 6:30 – 6:55 p.m. Biobehavioral Treatments: Creating homeostasis for the migraine brain - Dina Karvounides, PsyD
• 6:55 – 7:20 p.m. Acute and Preventive Medications: New pills, old pills - Jason Ziplow, MD
• 7:20 – 7:45 p.m. Non-pharmaceutical therapies- Patient-focused headache care and wellness - Madeline Chadehumbe, MD
• 7:45 – 8:00 p.m. Q&A - Donna Stephenson, MD

Speakers

• Donna Stephenson, MD, attending physician and Medical Director of Operations and Outreach for the Division of Neurology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Madeline A. Chadehumbe, MD, attending pediatric neurologist in the Division of Neurology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Dina Karvounides, PsyD, psychologist with the Pediatric Headache Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Christina Szperka, MD, MSCE, FAHS, Director of the Pediatric Headache Program and a pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Jason Ziplow, MD, attending pediatric neurologist in the Division of Neurology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

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ACCME Accreditation Statement: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Approval of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) for this lecture is pending. If approved, physicians can claim CME credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity for free.

Related specialties: neurology, general pediatrics