Harry’s attacks meet all but one of the criteria for Migraine without aura, the one that says the attacks last from 4-72 hours, untreated or unsuccessfully treated. It’s not unusual for children’s Migraines to have a somewhat different pattern than in adults. It may be that, as Harry gets older, the pattern will become better established and facilitate diagnosis.
Thus, Sheftell and Steiner classify Harry’s attacks as probable Migraine, which they describe as “a diagnostic refuge for headache that appears to be migraine but obstinately fails to meet one (and only one) of the criteria for that diagnosis.”
They do reserve the possibility that Harry’s attacks are a secondary headache disorder, meaning that it has an underlying cause or is attributable to another disorder. They state, “the proximity of Voldemort still suggests this is in fact a secondary headache disorder manifesting with migrainous features. This possibility needs to be tested by final removal of the presumed cause: resolution following removal of the cause is an important diagnostic criterion for almost all secondary headaches.
Summary:
I borrow this paragraph from the authors of the journal article as it so eloquently summarizes the need for education and awareness as well as the motivation for the article:
“That even a young male Wizard has recurrent disabling headache is a reflection of the wider problem of headache in children and adolescents. In the Muggle world, the burden of child and adolescent headache is of under-recognized importance; as in adults, it is very often under-treated. We applaud the efforts of the paediatric subcommittees of both the International Headache Society and the American Headache Society to raise awareness of these issues, and appeal for assistance to the world of Magic. Headache need not be a curse for Muggles or Wizards: it can be lifted with research, better to understand it, and education, better to manage it.”
1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Resources:
Sheftell, Fred, MD; Steiner, Timothy J., MB, PhD; Hallie Thomas. “Harry Potter and the Curse of Headache.” Headache 2007;47:911-916.
Interview with Dr. Fred Sheftell. July 1, 2007.
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© Teri Robert, 2007 -2009. Last updated July 28, 2009.
