Journal de la douleur et du soulagement

Abstrait

Headache Attributed to Airplane Travel in a Child-First Case in Brazil

Luara Lis Barbosa Boson, Lucas Aguiar Alencar Oliveira and Fernando Jacó Silva Moreira

Headache attributed to airplane travel (HAAT) is a rare form of headache disorder that develops exclusively during plane travel. HAAT is characterized by occurring during takeoff or landing or both and improves spontaneously within 30 minutes after the ascent or descent of the airplane is completed. We report the case of a 9- year-old Brazilian boy with recurrent episodes of headache without associated symptoms occurring during airplane travel, but only during landing. Paranasal sinus tomography and brain magnetic resonance imaging did not reveal barotrauma or inflammation of the paranasal sinuses or any brain injury. This case fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for HAAT. It appears that HAAT may occur without prior history of barotrauma or inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.