Background: Migraine is a common clinical condition in children affecting their quality of life. Limited literature studies are available on the pharmacological treatment of acute migraine in children. Thus, the present randomized controlled clinical blind trial was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral Ibuprofen with oral paracetamol in the acute treatment of migraine in children. Material & Method: The study included 60 school going children (age 6-10yrs) fulfilling criteria of International Classification for headache disorders,3rd edition, with at least one migraine attacks per month for 2 hours; with recurrence for at least 6 months & with unsatisfactory relief from prior treatments. Written informed consent acquired from parents & permission undertaken by the ethical committee. Any other etiology of migraine attacks was ruled out. The cases were randomized into Group Ibuprofen (n=30) and Group Paracetamol (n=30). A written record was maintained at home. Pain relief (≥ 2-point reduction from the baseline values) & freedom from pain (VAS scale), associated symptoms, side effects of drugs were noted. Results: No statistical differences in baseline characteristics found in the two groups. Pain relief in 95% of children and 33.3% reached freedom from pain at 2 hr interval with relief in associated symptoms in 50% of children. Relief after drug administration noted with regards to associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting, photophobia & phonophobia were observed with no statistically significant differences in both groups. Mild adverse events of epigastic pain & nausea reported in both groups. Conclusion: Both Ibuprofen & Paracetamol are equally efficacious and can be adopted as safe, economical drugs in relieving the acute migraine in children.

Background: Migraine is a common clinical condition in children affecting their quality of life. Limited literature studies are available on the pharmacological treatment of acute migraine in children. Thus, the present randomized controlled clinical blind trial was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral Ibuprofen with oral paracetamol in the acute treatment of migraine in children. Material & Method: The study included 60 school going children (age 6-10yrs) fulfilling criteria of International Classification for headache disorders,3rd edition, with at least one migraine attacks per month for 2 hours; with recurrence for at least 6 months & with unsatisfactory relief from prior treatments. Written informed consent acquired from parents & permission undertaken by the ethical committee. Any other etiology of migraine attacks was ruled out. The cases were randomized into Group Ibuprofen (n=30) and Group Paracetamol (n=30). A written record was maintained at home. Pain relief (≥ 2-point reduction from the baseline values) & freedom from pain (VAS scale), associated symptoms, side effects of drugs were noted. Results: No statistical differences in baseline characteristics found in the two groups. Pain relief in 95% of children and 33.3% reached freedom from pain at 2 hr interval with relief in associated symptoms in 50% of children. Relief after drug administration noted with regards to associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting, photophobia & phonophobia were observed with no statistically significant differences in both groups. Mild adverse events of epigastic pain & nausea reported in both groups. Conclusion: Both Ibuprofen & Paracetamol are equally efficacious and can be adopted as safe, economical drugs in relieving the acute migraine in children.