Migraine is one of the most prevalent forms of headache in the general population, and is particularly common among subjects seeking medical advice for their head pain. The prevalence of migraine is three times higher in women than in men and peaks in the age group, 30-39 years. Migraine is characterized by recurrent attacks of head pain, often unilateral, pulsating, of an intensity mild to severe, worsened by physical activity and lasting from 4 up to 72 hours. The attacks are often accompanied by neurovegetative symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. In one third of migrainous patients, the attacks are preceded by an aura, characterized by reversible focal neurological symptoms that usually develop gradually over 5-20 minutes, and lasts for less than 60 minutes.
Last date updated on January, 2025