Paroxysmal hemicrania

摘要

Paroxysmal hemicrania is a rare syndrome although the number of diagnosed cases is increasing steadily. Its prevalence is not known, but the relative frequency compared to cluster headache is reported to be approximately 1-3%.Paroxysmal hemicrania was originally considered to be a female disease. However, it is now evident that male cases also occur, and these have been reported in increasing numbers. By 1979 there was a female : male ratio of 7 : 1, which compares with the 84 patients reviewed in 1989 where the sex distribution was 25 males (30%) and 59 females (70%), a F : M ratio of 2.36 : I. It is therefore possible that future observations may reduce the female predominance in paroxysmal hemicrania.Paroxysmal hemicrania usually begins in adulthood, with a mean age of 34 years.1'2 It may, however, begin at any age. The youngest patient described was 6 years and the oldest 81 years old.