Headache

Question 1

Sudden severe thunderclap headache. Associated vomiting, CVA symptoms (FAST/AVVV), LOC/reduced GCS, stiff neck.

Answer 1

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

Question 2

Confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, enlarged pupil in 1 eye, headache, vomiting.

Answer 2

Epidural Haematoma

Question 3

Confusion, slurred speech, problems with balance or walking, headache, seizures or LOC, nausea/vomiting, weakness/numbness, vision problems.

Answer 3

Subdural Haematoma

Question 4

Headache, one-sided weakness, vomiting, seizures, decreased GCS, neck stiffness, intracranial pressure, vision changes.

Answer 4

Intracerebral Haemorrhage

Question 5

Facial droop and/or numbness. Unilateral arm/leg weakness, numbness or altered sensation, paralysis of one side of the body. Slurred or inappropriate speech, sudden inability to produce/understand speech.

Answer 5

Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)

Question 6

Worsened co-ordination and balance. Visual field disturbances or loss. Vomiting. Vertigo.

Answer 6

Posterior Stroke

Question 7

Facial droop and/or numbness. Unilateral arm/leg weakness, numbness or altered sensation, paralysis of one side of the body. Slurred or inappropriate speech, sudden inability to produce/understand speech.

Symptoms may last minutes to hours.

Answer 7

Transient Ischaemic Attack

Question 8

Worsened co-ordination and balance. Visual field disturbances or loss. Vomiting. Vertigo.

Symptoms may last minutes to hours.

Answer 8

Posterior TIA

Question 9

Headache, photophobia, neck stiffness, fever, seizures (late), non-blanching rash.

Answer 9

Meningitis / Encephalitis

Question 10

Headache, vision loss, scalp tenderness, shoulder/neck/hip pain, fever.

Answer 10

Temporal Arteritis

Question 11

Headache, worse lying down, ataxia, personality change, confusion.

Answer 11

Space Occupying Lesion

Question 12

Headache, CVA symptoms, droopy eyelid, pulsating noise heard in ears.

Answer 12

Carotid Dissection

Question 13

Headache described as pressure, located behind the eyes, frontal lobe and cheeks. Pain worse when leaning forward, cold-like symptoms.

Answer 13

Sinus Headache

Question 14

Band-like and constricting headache, often radiates from neck to frontal lobe. Mild to moderate pain, onset usually later in the day, associated with stress and tiredness.

Answer 14

Tension Headache

Question 15

Sudden onset, pattern-like occurence, occurs every day in bouts lasting several weeks to months before symptom-free periods. Pain sharp, burning or piercing on one side of head.

Answer 15

Cluster Headache

Question 16

Pulsating headache, onset between 4-72 hours, unilateral head pain, nausea/vomiting, disabling intensity, sensitivity to light.

Answer 16

Migraine

Question 17

What can indicate Meningitis / Encephalitis?

Answer 17

Kernig’s leg sign - patient supine, knee bent at 90 degrees, and knee flexed. Resistance, pain, or inability to flex knee is a positive sign
Brudzinski’s neck sign - patient supine, one hand behind head and other hand on chest. If flexing the neck also flexes the knee, this is a positive sign.