Clinical Characteristics of Headache among a Sample of Iraqi Medical and Dental Students

Background: Headache is a painful condition related to a major lack of productivity, limitation of social activities and impairment of quality of life. Method: in this study a structured questionnaire was formulated in a form of multiple choices questions to gather information on the clinical characteristics, associated factors and the triggering factors along with the mode of treatment adopted by dental and medical undergraduate students of the University of Baghdad in the period from January to March 2019. Language of questionnaire was made simple and easily understandable to students. Students were assured of confidentiality and the participation was entirely voluntary. Results: in this study a total number of 340 students participated, 170 of them were medical students 76(44.7%) males and 94(55.3%) females, and the other 170 were dental students 45(26%) males and 125(74%) females .It was found that 170 medical students had 161 associated symptoms with headache , the most common associated symptoms was scalp tenderness 44(25.9%), while the least common associated symptom was diarrhea 4(2.4%).While 170 dental students had 162 associated symptoms, the most common associated symptoms was scalp tenderness 46 (27.2%), while the least common associated symptom was seizures 2 (1.2%). 170 medical students expressed 385 triggering factors for causation of headache. It was found that the most common triggering factors was irregular sleep 118(69.4%). And 170 dental students expressed 437 triggering factors for causation of headache. It was found that the most common triggering factors was stress 136 (80.5%). In this study the percentage of medical students who taking self medications was 88.82% and 92.35% for dental students also it was found that both medical & dental students had the highest percentage for using Paracetamol as analgesic, 119(70%) for medical students, and 126(74.6%) for dental students. Conclusions: the results of this study show that the majority of both medical and dental students suffer from headache with self medications used by the majority.