Headaches Flashcards
What condition would you be concerned about in a pt who presents with visual loss?
Giant cell arteritis, acute angle closure glaucoma
What condition would you be concerned about in a pt with prolonged visual aura?
Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
What condition would you be concerned about in someone with disequilibrium?
CVA, brain tumor
Confusion or lethargy?
Meningitis, encephalitis, brain tumor, brain abscess
New-onset seizure?
infection, brain tumor
Fever?
Meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess
Speech changes?
Expressive or receptive aphasia (brain tumor)
History of malignancy?
Brain tumor, metastasis
History of HIV?
CNS lymphoma, toxoplasmosis, cryptococcal meningitis
History of neurosurgery or CNS shunt?
Hydrocephalus, meningitis
Eye pain?
Acute angle closure glaucoma
Thunderclap headache?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
New onset after age 50?
brain tumor, CVA, giant cell arteritis
Progressive headache over weeks to months?
Brain tumor
Diplopia?
Brain tumor, CVA, AVM
Hemiparesis?
CVA, brain tumor, brain abscess
Aphasia?
CVA, brain tumor, brain abscess
Headache worse at work?
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Nausea?
Brain tumor, hydrocephalus, carbon monoxide poisoning
Neck stiffness?
Meningitis
Onset of headache with exertion, cough, or sexual activity?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
Unilateral in 60 to 70 percent, bifrontal or global in 30 percent
Migraine
Bilateral location
Tension
Always unilateral
Cluster headache (usually begins around eye or temple)