By Deborah Condon

At least 14% of people who suffer with migraine will have to visit an A&E department at some stage in their life as a result of the condition, the Migraine Association of Ireland (MAI) has said.

Migraine is an intense, throbbing headache that occurs on one side of the head. It can last up to three days and can be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and/or noise.

It is the most common neurological condition in the world - around 400,000 people in Ireland are affected.

According to the MAI, international research has shown that up to 2.5% of all visits to A&E departments are due to headaches and 14% of those with migraine will visit an A&E unit at some point.

However one study found that while 95% of patients attending an A&E unit with acute primary headache had migraine, just 7% of these were given a migraine-specific drug.

In order to address this issue, the association has devised guidelines to help health professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine within the A&E setting.

"We need to get across the message that migraine should be taken seriously and that opiates should be avoided. Patients are often given opiates for migraine in A&E and sometimes in general practice too", explained Dr Orla Hardiman, a consultant neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, who was involved in drafting the new guidelines.

Dr Edward O'Sullivan, director of the headache/migraine clinic in Cork University Hospital also emphasised the importance of choosing the correct drugs when treating someone with migraine.

"The issue of ensuring effective treatment of migraine in our emergency departments is a relevant and appropriate one. Acute treatment should be with non-opiate based drugs such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)", Dr O'Sullivan said.

Copies of the guidelines are available from the MAI. Call 1850 200 378.