Possible high fever in influenza outpatients with migraine – A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background. There is limited information on neurologic complications associated with influenza in adults. Objectives. To identify headache features and high fever in influenza outpatients with migraine in the Department of Internal Medicine by a neurologist. Methods. In 2022, a retrospective cohort study was performed to review the medical records during 2016 to 2019. A total of 64 (44 women; 53 unvaccinated; 47 type A) influenza patients were included. All patients were physically examined, and axillary temperatures were measured at around 9 am. The mean body temperature in 34 patients without headache was compared to that in 22 with headache and 8 with headache and an underlying migraine. Results. Among the 27 unvaccinated influenza type A patients (18 women) under 50 years old, the mean body temperatures were 37.79, 38.10, and 38.86 degrees C for the 12 (6 women) without headache, 10 (8 women) with headache, and 5 (4 women) with headache and a history of migraine, respectively. The mean [SD] ages were 33.58 [7.27], 37.30 [9.58], and 32.40 [7.50] years, respectively. Levene`s Test showed no equal variances between the body temperatures of the 12 without headache and those of 5 with headache and a history of migraine (P=0.007). Welch`s Test showed significant differences in their mean body temperatures (P=0.012). Conclusion. There is a possibility of high fever in unvaccinated influenza type A outpatients under 50 years old with migraine.