Migraine is characterized by recurrent, hemicranial pulsating, moderate to severe headaches lasting for 2-72 hours associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia,
osmophobia and disability.
TABLE 1 Diagnostic criteria for migraine without aura (3) At least 5 total episodes of headache * that last 4-72 hours each With at least 2 of these AND with at least 2 of these characteristics: symptoms: Unilateral location Nausea Pulsating quality Vomiting Moderate-to-severe pain Photophobia Aggravation with movement Phonophobia Causes avoidance of routine
Osmophobia activities * Headache episodes cannot be attributed to another disorder.
Therefore, in these cases, typical migraine-associated symptoms, such as photophobia, phonophobia,
osmophobia, nausea, and/or vomiting, are important for diagnosis.