[Headache and chronic sleep deprivation: an often missed relationship in children and also in adults].

Three children, two girls aged 9 and 13 years and a boy aged 9 years, and a man aged 22, presented with headache of migrainoid character. The complaints resolved after attention had been given to sleeping habits, notably problems with falling asleep. The literature on the relationship between lack of sleep and headache is scarce. In history-taking doctors often neglect sleeping customs. Yet awareness of this connection can provide the clue to a successful treatment of headache. In more than half the children with headache who are referred to the outpatient clinic of Neurology, a serious lack of sleep is a major contributing factor to the problems. One should strongly advise against use of coffee and Cola drinks at all times and of tea in the evening. Patients are urged to create a restful atmosphere about bedtime: taking a walk or a hot shower, being told a story and so on. They should not read in bed, watch TV or play computer games in the bedroom. Prescription of clonidine 0.025-0.075 mg in children before bedtime may be useful.