The Prevalence of Osmophobia in Migranous and Episodic Tension Type Headaches

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ahmad Chitsaz 1
Abbas Ghorbani 1
Masoumeh Dashti 2
Mohsen Khosravi 3
Mohammadreza Kianmehr 4
1 Department of Neurology, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Neurology, Mohammad Rasolalah Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 General Practitioner, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Researcher, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Migraines are a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Many persons experience sensory hyper excitability manifested by photophobia, phonophobia and osmophobia. This study was planned to investigate the prevalence of osmophobia in migranous and episodic tension type headache (ETTH). Materials and Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to all patients to evaluate the eventual presence of osmophobia during a headache attack and different characteristics of osmophobia were determined. Results: Osmophobia reported in 84% with migranous headache with aura, 74% of migranous patients without aura and in 43.3% of those with ETTH. In 50% of patients, osmophobia was present in all of their headache attacks, 11.7% had osmophobia in more than half of their attacks (from 10 attacks they reported osmophobia in 5-9 ones) and others had this sign in less than half of their attacks (from 10 attacks they reported osmophobia in less than 5 ones). Most frequently the offending odors were scents (88%), foods (54.2%) and cigarette smoke (62.5%). Osmophobia starts 30 min before the headache starts in 22.7% of patients. Conclusion: Osmophobia appears structurally integrated into the migraine history of the patient; however, for differential diagnosis with ETTH, other criteria are necessary.

Keywords

1.
Headache classification committee of the international headache society classification and diagnostic criteria for headache disorders, cranial neuralgias and facial pain. Cephalalgia 1998,8:1-96.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Blau JN, Solomon F. Smell and other sensory disturbances in migraine. J Neurol 1985;232:275-276.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Kelman L. The place of osmophobia and taste abnormalities in migraine classification: A tertiary care study of 1237 patient's. Cephalalgia 2004;24:940-6.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Morillo LE, Alarcon F. Aranaga N. Clinical characteristics and patterns of medication use of migraineurs in Latin America from 12 cities in 6 countries. Headache 2005;45:118-126.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Headache classification subcommittee of the international headache society. The international classification of headache disorders: 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004;24:9-160.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Amery WK, Waelkens J, Vandenbergh V. The sensorium of the migraineur. Ital J Neurol Sci 1988;9:539-45.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Hirsch AR. Olfaction in migraineurs. Headache 1992;32:233-6.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Snyder RD, Drummond PD. Olfaction in migraine. Cephalalgia 1997;17:729-32.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Demarquay G, Royet JP, Giraud P, Chazot G, Valade D, Ryvlin P. Rating of olfactory judgements in migraine patients. Cephalalgia 2006;26:1123-30.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Cecchini AP, Sandrini G, Pucci E, Callieco R, Nappi G. Migraine and olfaction. New perspectives in research. Confinia Cephalalgica 2000;9:3-8.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Welch KMA. Contemporary concepts of migraine pathogenesis. Neurology 2003;61:2-8.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Zanchin G, Dainese F, Trucco M, Mainardi F, Mampreso E, Maggioni F. Osmophobia in migraine and tension-type headache and its clinical features in patients with migraine. Headache Cephalalgia. 2007;27:1061-8.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Corletto E. Osmophobia in juvenile primary headaches. Cephalalgia 2008;28:825-31.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Porta-Etessam J, Casanova I, García-Cobos R, Lapeña T, Fernández MJ, García-Ramos R, et al. Osmophobia analysis in primary headache. Neurologia 2009;24:315-7.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Dalessio DJ. Wolff's headache. 7th edn. New York: Oxford University Press; 2001. p. 238-246.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Olesen J, Tfelt-Hansen P., Welch KMA. The headaches. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2000. p. 9-15.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Zanchin G, Dainese F, Mainardi F, Mampreso E, Perin C, Maggioni F Osmophobia in primary headaches.J Headache Pain. 2005;6:213-5  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
charff L, Turk DC, Marcus DA. Triggers of headache episodes and coping responses of headache diagnostic groups. Headache. 1995;35:397-403.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19.
Raffaelli Junior E, Martins OJ, Filho Ados SD. A role for anticonvulsants in migraine. Funct Neuro 1986;1:495-498.  Back to cited text no. 19
    
20.
Savi L, Rainero I, Valfrè W, Gentile S, Lo Giudice R, Pinessi L. Food and headache attacks. A comparison of patients with migraine and tension-type headache. Panminerva Med 2002;44:27-31.  Back to cited text no. 20
    
21.
Spierings EL, Ranke AH, Honkoop PC. Precipitating and aggravating factors of migraine versus tension-type headache. Headache 2001;41:554-8.  Back to cited text no. 21
    
22.
Fukui PT, Gonçalves TR, Strabelli CG, Lucchino NM, Matos FC, Santos JP, et al. Trigger factors in migraine patients. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2008;66:494-9.  Back to cited text no. 22
Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume 2017, April
April 2017
Pages 1-8