Headaches Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most common presenting symptom in family and emergency medicine?

A

Headache

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the two main headache issues that bring patients in?

A

Severity

Chronicity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the characteristic of pain (quality) which you should look for in headache?

A

Throbbing with heart beat then its vascular

Steady pressure or ache it is most likely muscular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What should you do for all new onset headache pts?

A

Complete neurological examination

Ophthalmoscopy of retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What should be done if the neuro test is positive?

A

Refer to a neurologist and neurosurgeon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

If the headache is always in the same place what should you think?

A

Local disease ex:

Sinusitis, brain tumor, arteriovenous malformation, circle of Willis aneurysm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

If a pt is 50 or older complaining of headache what possible etiologies should you think about?

A

Temporal arteritis

Brain tumor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

If a pt is 50 or older complaining of headache what exams should be done?

A

Neurologic
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
MRI or CT brain scan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which type of imaging exam is often the first image obtained in headache with a potentially life threatening diagnosis?

A

CT scan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are some things a CT scan will miss in terms of vascular disease?

A

Aneurysm, malformations, hemorrhage, artery dissection, infarction, thrombosis, vasculitis, hematomas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

More things a CT scan can miss of neoplastic diesase?

A

Meningeal carcinomatosis

Pituitary Tumor and hemorrhage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What things will a CT miss in termds of a cervicomeduallary lesion?

A

Chiari malformations

Foramen magnus tumors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What things will a CT scan miss in terms of infections?

A

Paranasal sinuses
Meningoencephalitis
Cerebritis and brain abscess

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What possibilities should be considered is the headache is sudden onset?

A

Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Pituitary apoplexy
Bleed into tumor or arteriovenous malformation
Posterior fossa brain tumor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What tests should be done if a pt complains of sudden onset headache?

A

MRI/MRA
CT scan
Lumbar puncture for CSF evaluation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

If the onset of the headache occurred during extension what should you expect?

A

Possbility of leaking cerebral aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation
Do complete neurological exam

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the mortality rate of aneurysm?

A

70-90%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a pituitary apoplexy?

A

Sudden massive degeneration with hemorrhagic necrosis of the pituitary gland
Associated with a pituitary tumor
Signaled by abrupt headache, followed by loss of sight, diplopia, drowsiness, confusion or other mentally deranged states and coma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Is a pts headache diary, what should they keep track of?

A

Accelerating pattern of headaches (more frequent more severe)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In the event of frequency and severity what could an accelerating pattern of headaches and what should be done?

A

Brain tumor
Subdural hematoma
Medication overuse
MRI/MRA and Drug history/drug screen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Meningitis

A

Infection of the meninges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Encephalitis

A

Infection of the brain substance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What should you suspect if a cancer pt has a headache and what tests should be done?

A

Meningitis (chronic, carcinomatous)
Brain abscess (toxoplasmosis)
Metastasis
MRI/MRA and lumbar puncture for CSF analysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What should you suspect in a pt with new headache who has presents with fever, stiff neck or rash?

A
Meningitis
Encephalitis
Lyme Disease
Systemic Infection
Connective Tissue Disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What should you test for in a pt that has new headache with fever, stiff neck or rash?

A
MRI / MRA
Lumbar puncture for CSF Analysis
Blood Tests
-CBC
-ESR
-ANA
-Lyme Titre
26
Q

What should you look for in a pt who presents with focal neurologic symptoms and headache?

A
Tumor
AVM
Stroke
Connective Tissue Disease
-Antiphospholipid
-Antibody Disease
27
Q

What should you test for in a pt who has a focal neurologic symptoms?

A
MRI /MRA
CT of Brain
Blood Test
-ESR
-ANA
-Other Connective 
-Tissue Disease Tests
28
Q

What should be done in a physical examination for a headache?

A

High: maybe hypertensive headache
Low: maybe ischemic headache

29
Q

If the patient has nuchal rigidity what should be ruled out?

A

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

30
Q

If nuchal rigidity if found, what is next emergency step? And what are the steps after that?

A

CT scan
If normal follow iwth lumbr puncture for CSF analysis
Fluid has blood transfer to neurologist
Fluid is clear send to lab for cell count, gram stain, glucose, protein and culture
Rule out meningitis

31
Q

Signs and symptoms of meningism

A

The symptoms and signs of meningitis associated with an acute febrile illness or dehydration
There is no actual infection of the meninges
Also called meningismus or pseudomeningitis

32
Q

If papilldema is found with headache in a physical what would you see?

A

Brain Tumor
Meningitis
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor Cerebri)

33
Q

If papilledema is suspected in a physical for a headache what imaging and exams are required?

A

Neuroimaging

Lumbar Puncture for Pressure & CSF Analysis

34
Q

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Aka Pseudotumor cerebri

A
Caused by cerebral edem
Papilledema
Elevated intervranial pressure
Normal CSF on lumbar puncture
Headache
Nausea/Vomiting
Normal Neurologic Examination
35
Q

What are some etiologies of idiopathic intracranial hypertension?

A
Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
Jugular Vein Thrombosis
Addison’s Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Hypoparathyroidism
Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia
36
Q

What is the most worrisome vital sign you can find in a headache and why?

A

Fever
Meningitis
Encephalitis
Upper respiratory infection (most common)

37
Q

What could you find in vital signs of blood pressure in a headache?

A

Hypertension

Hypotension

38
Q

In the EENT exam what should you look for if there is a headache?

A

Infection or neoplasm
Visually inspect the rtina for evidence of papilledema
If present it most likely represents increased intracranial pressure

39
Q

If you have an abnormal finding in a neurological exam, what is the first things to expect?

A

Intracranial pathology

40
Q

What are the 4 big headache issues?

A

Migraine
Muscle contraction headache
Cluster headache
Secondary headache disorders

41
Q

Hemicrania Histroy

A
A lateralized headache
Typical migraine pattern
Cluster headaches
Paroxysmal hemicrania
If the headache is throbbing maybe associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, sonophobia
Normal cause is migraine
42
Q

In physical examination of Hemicrania what should you look for unilaterally?

A
Conjunctival injection
Nasal congestion
Rhinorrhae 
Normal neuro exam
Cluster headache
43
Q

If no other symptomology appears in Hemicrania, what can be assumed?

A

Muscle contraction headache

44
Q

Cluster headache

A

A type of vascular headache that occurs in series of groups
Can last several weeks to several months at the same time each year
Spring and fall with pain free intervals
Onset age 20 to 30

45
Q

When do cluster headaches tend to occur?

A

At night generally lasting 1-3 in 24 hours lasting 15 min to 3 hours

46
Q

How is the pain in a cluster headache described?

A

Excruciating, boring pain behind or around eyes

47
Q

What are some cluster headache manifestations?

A

Pain affecting one side of the head but can spread
Tends to switch sides
Pain so terrible some try to kill themselves
Patient prefers upright and moving rather than still and laying

48
Q

What are some associated symptoms to cluster manifestations?

A
Conjunctival Injection
Tearing
Nasal Congestion
Rhinorrhea
Partial Horner Syndrome
Sweating and Flushing
(all occurring just on the side of the headache)
49
Q

What are the signs of Horner syndrome?

A
Ptosis of upper eyelid
Meiosis (pupil constriction) 
Anhydrosis and flushing on same side of face 
Narrowing of the palpebral fissure 
Retraction of eyeball
50
Q

What is the etiology of horner’s syndrome?

A

Ipsilateral brain stem lesion interrupting descending sympathetic pathways

51
Q

What are the cluster headache variants?

A

Atypical pain location
Multiple sharp jabbing pains (ice pick headaches)
SUNCT
Chronic continuous, sharply localized and unilateral pain

52
Q

What are cluster headache triggers?

A

Alcohol consumption
Smoking
Sublingual nitroglycerin

53
Q

What is the pathogenesis of a cluster headache?

A

Nucleus of trigeminal nerve descending to the spinal cord level becomes hyperactive unilaterally
Internal and external carotid arteries dilate and are principle pain sources
Horner syndrome - stretch/compression of sympathetic plexus around carotids
Serum serotonin and histamine levels inc

54
Q

Why should you not use OMT during a cluster headache?

A

During he headache it can exacerbate or prlong the pain

55
Q

What could cervical somatic dysfunction secondarily cause in a cluster headache?

A

Hyperactivity of the sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve may be due to spinal cord facilitation

56
Q

When should OMT be done for a cluster headache?

A

Between attacks:
Treat cervical segments
Treat any dysfunctions occurring in the upper 6 horacic segments and ribs
Normalized sympathetic outflow to head and neck

57
Q

What should you use to treat a cluster headache?

A

100% Oxygen by face mask for 15-20 min
SubQ sumatriptan injection (6 mg)
IM or IV dihydroergotamine (1 mg)
Intranasal lidocaine (4-6% drops)

58
Q

What is the short term prevention for a short term cluster headache?

A

Prednisolone and Trednisone (60-100 mg a day) slowly tapered over a period of a month
Only can be used once a year
Ergotamine tartrate (up to 4 mg a day in divided doses) risk of rebound headache

59
Q

How does methysergide work to provide short term cluster headache prevention?

A

Effective 65-70%
Only cluster
Fibrotic syndrome in prolonged use
-retroperitoneal, pleural, pulmonary, cardiac valvular fibrosis

60
Q

What are the long term prevention for cluster headaches?

A

Verapmil - calcium channel blocker
- (240-960 mg/day) used for hypertension or cardiac disease
- ECG needed priot to use then 10 days after dose change
Lithium carbonate
- Takes a week to reach steady state
Effective at blood lvl of 0.4-0.8 mol/liter
Can be combined with others

61
Q

Describe chronic paroxysmal hemicrania.

A
Similar to cluster headache
Mostly female, occurs 10-30 times a day
Short duration (2-25 min) with unilateral pain
No nausea or vomiting
Responds to Idomecthacin (NSAID)