Motion sickness prevalence in school children.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of motion sickness in schoolchildren and related the finding to the postural balance and quality of life. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out with 831 children aged 7 to 12 years. The frequency of motion sickness was evaluated based on the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire-Short (MSSQ-short). Postural balance was assessed using the Romberg test under different sensory conditions. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory was used in order to assess the quality of life. The statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman correlation tests. The prevalence of motion sickness was 43.4 % in car, 43.2 % on bus, 11.7 % on park swing, and 11.6 % on Ferris wheel. Mean unadjusted scores on the MSSQ-short ranged from 5.0 (SE = 0.5) for 10-year-olds to 6.8 (SE = 0.5) for 9-year-olds. The most prevalent symptoms following the balance tests were dizziness (89.2 %), vertigo (54.9 %), headache (10.6 %), and nausea (8.2 %). Significant correlations were found between the MSSQ-short score and all postural balance tests. Significant correlations were found between the MSSQ and modified DHI (Dizziness Handicap Inventory) at all ages. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of motion sickness in schoolchildren is greater when in a car or on a bus. An association was found between motion sickness and postural balance tests and motion sickness and quality of life.

Prevalence and correlates of migraine among women attending a prenatal care clinic in Lima, Peru.

Migraine headaches are among the leading causes of disability in the world. The burden of migraines is highest in women of reproductive age. This cross-sectional study characterized the prevalence, symptoms and correlates of migrainous headaches in 154 pregnant women attending a prenatal care clinic in Lima, Peru. Lifetime prevalence of migraine defined by modified IHS criteria was 9.1% (95% CI 4.6-13.6). When probable migraines were included, the lifetime prevalence of migraine in this population was 29.2% (95% CI 22.0-36.4). Migraine headaches were associated with a maternal history of headache, childhood carsickness, a diagnosis of allergies, and a high frequency of fatigue. Although headache-related disability was low in terms of missed work and recreation, high rates of headache pain and medicinal use reflect the true impact on this population.

Avaliação vestibular computadorizada de pacientes com cinetose / Computerized vestibular evaluation in patients with motion sickness

Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência de sinais de disfunção vestibular e a hipótese topodiagnóstica à nistagmografia computadorizada com auto-rotação cefálica em pacientes com cinetose. Método: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de 100 pacientes com cinetose submetidos à avaliação funcional do sistema vestibular, por meio da nistagmografia computadorizada com auto-rotação cefálica, realizadas nos anos de 1999 a 2001 sob supervisão da Disciplina de Otoneurologia da UNIFESP-EPM. Resultados: Achados anormais, característicos de acometimento do sistema vestibular, foram encontrados em 75,0 por cento dos casos. As provas que apresentaram maior número de alterações foram a auto-rotação cefálica (75,0 por cento dos casos) e a calórica (37,0 por cento dos casos). A hipótese topodiagnóstica dos 75 casos que mostraram sinais e/ou sintomas ao exame vestibular foi de vestibulopatia periférica de tipo irritativo. Conclusão: A maioria dos pacientes com cinetose apresenta sinais de disfunção vestibular à nistagmografia computadorizada incluindo a auto-rotação cefálica, que sugerem a hipótese topodiagnóstica de vestibulopatia periférica de tipo irritativo.