肉毒杆菌或能用于缓解儿童和青少年的偏头痛

Botox injections best known to iron out wrinkles and crow's feet could help relieve migraine headaches in children and teenagers, a new study found. The attacks were not only shorter after the injections but the pain was less severe, scientist found.

一项新研究发现，以消除皱纹和鱼尾纹闻名的肉毒杆菌或有助于缓解儿童和青少年的偏头痛。科学家发现，注射肉毒杆菌之后，偏头痛的持续时间不仅更短，而且疼痛程度也有所减轻。

Currently Botox can be prescribed on the NHS for adults chronic migraine suffering headaches on 15 or more days each month. Now a new US study found injections of botulinum toxin may provide significant relief to children and teenagers which traditional treatments have failed.

目前，英国国家医疗服务体系可以开肉毒杆菌处方药，开给那些受慢性偏头痛折磨、头痛时间长达每月15天及以上的成年人。现在，美国一项新研究发现注射肉毒杆菌毒素可能会大大缓解儿童和青少年的偏头痛，而这是传统治疗方法未能实现的。

One in seven Britons are estimated to suffer from migraines and it affects three-times as many women as men. About 4% of boys and girls in pre pubertal age suffer from migraine but as they get older there is a predominance among girls.

据估计，七分之一的英国人患有偏头痛，而受偏头痛影响的女性是男性的三倍。青春期前，大约4%的男生和女生受偏头痛的折磨，但随着年龄的增长，女性患偏头痛的人数明显增多。

Like the US, Botox is only approved to treat adults but it is estimated a tenth of school-aged children and teens suffer from migraines. The study included nine children and teens aged eight to 17 who suffered from migraines from eight to 29.5 days per month.

和美国一样，英国只允许用肉毒杆菌治疗成年人，但据估计，十分之一的学龄儿童和青少年都患有偏头痛。该研究包括9名8至17岁的儿童和青少年，他们每个月受偏头痛影响的天数从8天到29.5天不等。

Most had tried numerous medications and other therapies without much relief. All received Botox injections in the front and back of the head and neck every 12 weeks and were evaluated over a five-year period. After treatment, the patients experienced migraines two to 10 days per month. When they did have an attack, their headaches didn't last as long.

大多数孩子都尝试了各种各样的药物和其它治疗方法，但却没有多大用处。研究人员每12周对所有的孩子进行肉毒杆菌注射（在头部前后以及颈部注射），连续5年如此。治疗后，患者每个月偏头痛次数降至2-10天。虽然还是会偏头痛，但持续时间却没那么久了。

Lead author Assistant Clinical Professor Dr Shalini Shah at the University of California said: "When children and teens have migraine pain, it can severely affect their lives and ability to function.

首席作者加利福尼亚大学的临床助理教授沙利尼·沙阿博士说道："当儿童和青少年患有偏头痛时，他们的生活和功能能力会受到严重影响。"

"They miss school, their grades suffer and they are left behind, often unable to reach their full potential. Clearly there is a need for an alternative treatment for those who haven't found relief." The study was presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Anesthesiology 2017 annual meeting in Boston.

"他们想念学校，他们的学习成绩下降、开始落后他人，常常不能完全发挥自己的潜能。很明显，我们需要为那些症状没有缓解的患者找到替代治疗方法。"在波士顿召开的2017年美国麻醉协会（American Society of Anesthesiologists' Anesthesiology）的年会上，研究员展示了这一研究。