Abstract

Background: Migraine is a common type of primary head ache syndrome .Various co morbid conditions have been associated with migraine. This include stroke, epilepsy, psychiatric illness, fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome etc.

We have observed that there is an increased incidence of epistaxis in patients admitted with acute migraine.

Objectives: Present study aims is to determine the incidence of epistaxis in patients with migraine.

Materials and Methods: All patients who satisfied the criteria of migraine based on ICHD 2 were included in this study. Patients with features of secondary headache syndromes and other causes of epistaxis were excluded from the cohort using appropriate investigations. This is a hospital based prospective observational study conducted in two tertiary institutions of Kerala over a period of seven years.

Observations: Total number of patients enrolled for study was 486, of which 331 (68.1%) were females and 155(31.9%) were males. 433 patients (89.09%) were between the age of 11and 45yrs, 418 (86%) had one or more co morbid diseases and 117(24.07 %) had one or more recurrent episodes of epistaxis during acute phase of migraine. 452 patients (93%) with epistaxis also had other associated illnesses.

Conclusions: Epistaxis is more frequently seen in migrainers than in general population. Awareness of co-occurrence of migraine and epistaxis is important to avoid unnecessary investigations and the use of NSAID during acute phase of illness.

Keyword: Migraine, Epistaxis, Co morbid illness.