Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 1

Phenomenology of Migraine: An Observational Study in Eastern India

  • Author:
  • Rajarshi Chakravarty1,, Somsubhra Chattopadhyay2, Sharmistha Debnath3, Souradeep Ray4, Sajeeb Mondal5, Shuvendu Datta6
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 29 to 35

1Cum Clinical Tutor, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kamarhati, Kolkata

2Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kamarhati, Kolkata

3Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Oncology (Oncopathology), R.G Kar Medical College, Kolkata

4Assistant Professor, Department of E.N.T, R.G Kar Medical College, Kolkata

5Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kamarhati, Kolkata

6R.M.O Cum Clinical Tutor, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kamarhati, Kolkata

*Corresponding author: Rajarshi Chakravarty, Resident Medical Officer, Department of psychiatry, College of Medicine and Sagar Dutta Hospital, Kolkata-700058. E-mail-rajsthebest@gmail.com

Online published on 16 January, 2016.

Abstract

The data on migraine phenomenology in Indians is sparse. Earlier studies in India showed some difference in phenomenology compared to outside.

To find phenomenology of migraine.

Ours was an observational study. It was performed on 688 subjects of migraine (ICHD qualified) to study socio-demographic variable, location, laterality and quality of pain and associated phenomena through predesigned semi structured interviews.

Total number-688 (F: Mà9: 1), mean age-28.46(range 10–65 yrs); mean duration-22 month(range-15 days to 15 yrs);23% were ethnic Bengalis and 77% non-bengalis living in a North Kolkata suburb. Most were housewives (71%) with only 15% having positive family history. 69.9% patients had unilateral pain at onset. Further, in our study the bilateral and unilateral headaches tended to spread equally (75%) to become hemicranial or holocranial; spreading was more common in left side, ‘shifting unilateral ’headache; vertex headaches tended to spread less. Aura was seen in only about 10% of the patients. Photophobia was the commonest associated event followed by nausea/vomiting; physical activity remained the most important aggravating factor. Relation with menses was found in 15% of patients.

Ethnicity probably plays an important role.

Keywords

Migraine, Ethnicity, Phenomenology, Headache