Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Neurology, The Royal London
Hospitals, London, UK | Department of Child Health, University of Aberdeen,
Aberdeen, UK | Child & Family Psychotherapy, Queen's
University Hospital, London, UK | Department of Pediatrics, Queen's University Hospital,
London, UK
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Mas Ahmed, Department of Pediatrics,
Queen's University Hospital, Rom Valley Lane, Essex, London, UK. Tel.: +44 0170
843 5000, 6630/3507; Fax: +44 0170 850 3538; E-mail:
mas.ahmed@bhrhospitals.nhs.uk
Abstract: Chvostek's sign (CS) was examined in 590 consecutive children with
headache. A positive CS was found in 186/590 (31.5%) patients (111 mild;
75 marked). Forty-two percent of patients with migraine with aura, 5%
migraine without aura and 0.85% patients with non-migraine headaches had a
markedly positive CS. Trousseau's sign and biochemical investigations were
negative. Within each headache diagnostic group, there were no significant
differences in demographic data, headache characteristics or psychosocial
issues between patients with negative or positive (mild or marked) CS. Our
findings provide further evidence that the pathophysiology of migraine and
specially migraine with aura may differ from that of other headaches.