Nasal Septum Deviation is Not a Cause of Migraine or Tension Headache

Objective and Aim: Nasal septum deviation (NSD) is an important otorhinolaryngologic cause of headache. We evaluated the frequency of common forms of headache in subjects with NSD.

Methods: All participants underwent examination, 4-mm rigid nasal endoscopy exam. One hundred and eighty six patients (age ≥20 years) who had a diagnosis of NSD responded to a questionnaire used by neurologists to diagnose migraine and tension type headache. Migraine symptoms and pain severity were recorded using a 0 to 10 visual analog scale (VAS). Subject’s pain severity of tension type headache was evaluated by VAS. To recruit controls, another subjects without NSD were enrolled.

Results: A total of 97 subjects (52.2%) suffered from headache. In comparison, 63.7% of controls suffered from headache. In both groups, tension headache and migraine were the most common headache types. The groups were similar in terms of headache types (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Nasal or sinus disease can not manifest solely as headache. It seems that the presence of nasal disorders are suggested to have been coincidental in relation to headache. A study involving NSD grading is needed for further clarification.