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The Journal of Headache and Pain
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain 6/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Review Article

Headache, epilepsy and photosensitivity: how are they connected?

Authors: Dorothée G. A. Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenité, Alberto Verrotti, Alessia Di Fonzo, Laura Cantonetti, Raffaella Bruschi, Francesco Chiarelli, Maria Pia Villa, Pasquale Parisi

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 6/2010

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Abstract

Although headache and epilepsy have often been associated, the precise electroclinical and pathophysiological interaction between these disorders and in particular its relations with photosensitivity is as yet to be fully understood in adults or children. The association between headache and epilepsy commonly occurs in all types of epilepsy and not only in occipital epilepsy. Generally, peri-ictal headache is often neglected, regardless of its severity, because patients are more concerned about their seizures. Altered cerebral cortex excitability may be the link between these two conditions and photosensitivity shows this. The physician should bear this association in mind when dealing with epileptic and migraine patients so as to be able to offer such patients an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment; this should be borne in mind when declaring epileptic patients ‘seizure free’. To date neither the International Headache Society nor the International League against Epilepsy mention that headache/migraine may, on occasion, be the sole ictal epileptic manifestation. Lastly, studies designed to investigate the triggering role of photosensitivity in both headache and epilepsy are warranted.
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Metadata
Title
Headache, epilepsy and photosensitivity: how are they connected?
Authors
Dorothée G. A. Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenité
Alberto Verrotti
Alessia Di Fonzo
Laura Cantonetti
Raffaella Bruschi
Francesco Chiarelli
Maria Pia Villa
Pasquale Parisi
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 6/2010
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-010-0229-9

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