Headache Flashcards
List the 3 different classifications of headache
- Primary headache
- Secondary headache
- Trigeminal and other cranial neuralgias and other headaches
Define a primary headache
Four main groups of headaches thought to be due to a primary malfunction of neurons and their networks
Define a secondary headache
A headache that is symptomatic of some underlying pathology
List the causes of primary headaches
- Migraine
- Tension-type headache
- Cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalagias
- Other primary headaches (e.g. primary stabbing headache)
List the causes of secondary headaches
- Medication overuse
- Head and/or neck trauma
- Cranial or cervical vascular disorder - vascular malformation or intracranial haemorrhage
- Non-vascular intracranial disorder - raised ICP, idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- A substance or its withdrawal
- Infection - meningitis, encephalitis, abscess
- Disorder of homeostasis - hypercapnia or HTN
- Disorder of facial or cranial structures - acute sinusitis
- Associated with emotional disorders
Define a tension type headache
Symmetrical headache of gradual onset, often described as tightness, a band or pressure.
Usually no other symptoms.
List the different types of migraine
- Migraine with aura
- Migraine without aura
- Uncommon types of migraine
What are the characteristics of migraine without aura?
- Episodes may last 1-72hrs
- Commonly bilateral (but may be unilateral)
- Pulsatile
- Temporal or frontal area
- Often associated with unpleasant GI disturbance
- Associated with photophobia and phonophobia
- Aggravated by physical activity
- Relieved by sleep
What are the characteristics of migraine with aura?
- Headache is preceded by an aura (visual, sensory or motor)
- Aura may occur without headache
- Absence of problems between episodes
- Frequent presence of premonitory symptoms (tiredness, difficulty concentrating, autonomic features)
- Attacks usually last for a few hours
Discuss the types of visual aura associated with migraine
- Negative phenomena - hemianopia, scotoma (small areas of visual loss)
- Positive phenomena - fortification spectra (seeing zig-zag lines)
List the uncommon types of migraine
- Familial hemiplegic migraine
- Sporadic hemiplegic migraine
- Basilar-type migraine
- Periodic syndromes
What are the different periodic syndromes that can be present?
- Cyclical vomiting
- Abdominal migraine
- Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood
What are the features of cyclical vomiting?
- Recurrent stereotyped episodes of vomiting and intense nausea
- Associated with pallor and lethargy
- Well in between episodes
What are the features of abdominal migraine?
- Episodic midline abdominal pain
- Recurrent, bouts last 1-72hrs
- Pain is moderate to severe in intensity
- Associated with vasomotor symptoms, nausea and vomiting
- Well between episodes
What are the features of benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood?
- Recurrent brief episodes of vertigo
- Occur without warning and resolve spontaneously
- Otherwise healthy children
- Between episodes neurological exam, audiometric and vestibular function tests are normal