Nasal Septum Deviation is Not a Cause of Migraine or Tension Headache
Abdulkadir Koçer *
Neurology Department, Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey and Neurology Department, Duzce University, Istanbul, Turkey
Mehmet Eryılmaz
Neurology Department, Duzce University, Istanbul, Turkey
Hümeyra Dürüyen
Neurology Department,Bezmialem University, Istanbul, Turkey
Abdullah Belada
ENT Department, Duzce University, Istanbul, Turkey
Hüseyin Yaman
ENT Department, Duzce University, Istanbul, Turkey
Süber Dikici
Neurology Department, Duzce University, Istanbul, Turkey
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective and Aim: Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is an important otorhinolaryngologic cause of headache. We evaluated the frequency of common forms of headache in subjects with NSD.
Methods: All participants underwent examination, 4-mm rigid nasal endoscopy exam. One hundred and eighty six patients (age ≥20 years) who had a diagnosis of NSD responded to a questionnaire used by neurologists to diagnose migraine and tension type headache. Migraine symptoms and pain severity were recorded using a 0 to 10 visual analog scale (VAS). Subject’s pain severity of tension type headache was evaluated by VAS. To recruit controls, another subjects without NSD were enrolled.
Results: A total of 97 subjects (52.2%) suffered from headache. In comparison, 63.7% of controls suffered from headache. In both groups, tension headache and migraine were the most common headache types. The groups were similar in terms of headache types (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Nasal or sinus disease can not manifest solely as headache. It seems that the presence of nasal disorders are suggested to have been coincidental in relation to headache. A study involving NSD grading is needed for further clarification.
Keywords: Headache, migraine, tension headache, nasal septum / nasal septum deviation, sinusitis