IMPACT OF ACUTE MIGRAINE HEADACHE AMONGST UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Migraine is markedly disabling medical condition. Unfortunately the problem is poorly recognized and the majority of headache sufferers have not sought medical help even when their problem is severe. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of migraine headache in university students and suggest a simple school policy on headache that can be introduced to reduce this impact. One hundred and five students with migraine among 1000 students having headache that met the International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria for migraine and attends University of Maiduguri as a full time student from May, 2010 to December, 2011 and from whom informed consent was obtained were evaluated for this disorder using a structured study questionnaire. Thirty- seven (35%) had less than 25% reduction in their academic performance due to migraine attack, while 45% had between 25% and 50% reduction in academic performance. Thirteen (12%) and 10 (9.5%) had 50-75% and greater than 75% reduction in their academic performance respectively. Thirty-three (51%) of the science students had 25-50% reduction in their academic performance, whereas 18 (45%) of the art students had less than 25% reduction in their academic performance. Migraine can be triggered by examination and non examination related factors such as the influence of diet/drug, hunger, sleep deprivation, physical and emotional stress. The significant reduction in academic performance among school students requires an urgent intervention such as the development and introduction of school policy for migraine and troublesome headache.