Rhinogenic contact point headache in pediatric age group: a review

Authors

  • Santosh Kumar Swain Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • Prasenjit Baliarsingh Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha “O” Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20214954

Keywords:

RCPH, Pediatric age, Deviated nasal septum, Septal spur, Middle turbinate concha bullosa

Abstract

Headache is a common clinical entity of pediatric patients in routine clinical practice. Anatomical variation in the nasal cavity may result in headaches due to contact of the opposing mucosal surfaces, called rhinogenic contact point headache (RCPH). RCPH has recently begun to be of interest among clinicians and is accepted as a cause of headache by international headache society classification. The pressure of the two opposing mucosal surfaces in the nasal cavity without any evidence of inflammation can be an etiology for headache or facial pain. Anatomical variations in the nasal cavity like deviated nasal septum (DNS), spur, concha bullosa, hypertrophied inferior turbinate, medialized middle turbinate, and septal bullosa are important causes for contact point headache. RCPH is often misdiagnosed by clinicians during the assessment of headaches in pediatric patients and is sometimes considered a headache of unknown etiology. Endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity and computed tomography (CT) scans are important tools for the diagnosis of anatomical variations in the nasal cavity causing RCPH. Endoscopic resection of the contact point in the nasal cavity is the treatment of choice. There is not much literature for RCPH in pediatric patients, indicating that these clinical entities are neglected. This review article discusses the details of the epidemiology, etiopathology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment of the RCPH in pediatric patients.

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Published

2021-12-24

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Review Articles