Post-lumbar puncture headache is common complaint. A study of post-diagnostic lumbar puncture headache in children is rare. Various factors that might influence the occurrence of postdiagnostic lumbar puncture headache in children exist. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the frequency and risk factors for post-diagnostic lumbar puncture headache in children.

From March 2005 to February 2006, 44 patients with suspected meningitis were enrolled. Patients were received diagnostic lumbar puncture at the Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. We evaluated age, sex, previous headache history, number of puncture attempts, volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pressure of CSF, cell count in CSF, final diagnosis, and the frequency and duration of headaches.

Of the 44 patients (mean age 7.36±2.04, range 4-13 years), 16 patients (36.4%, male 13/33, 39.4%, female 3/11, 27.2%) had headache. The frequency of headaches was significantly higher in patients with previous headache history compare to those without previous headache history ( P =0.037). The mean of cell count of CSF was significantly higher in patients with post-lumbar puncture headache ( P =0.012). The other factors did not influence the post-diagnostic lumbar puncture headache.

Post-diagnostic lumbar puncture headache in children was more common than other studies. The factors that influence post-diagnostic lumbar puncture headache in children are previous headache history and cell count in CSF.