Headaches Flashcards
Presentation of HAs in younger vs older kids
Younger kids express pain differently! (i.e. crying, rocking, etc)Toddler – fussy, not as active, crying
Most important factor in assessing HAs?
- History!
- Child first, confirm w/parents
- OLDCARTS
- Patterns (HA diary)
HA PE
- Normal in primary HAs
* Usually normal in secondary HAs, but may have fever, nuchal rigidity, abnormal neuro exam
Red flags on HA history
- ·
- · sickle-cell disease
- · immunosuppressed
- · malignancy
- · coagulopathy
- · right-to-left shunt cardiac pathologies
- · head trauma
Red flags on HA PE
Abnormal Neuro Exam
- This is 2ndary etiology
- Ataxia
- Weakness
- Diplopia
- Abnormal EOM
- Papilledema or retinal hemorrhages
- Growth abnormalities, i.e. increased head circumference, short stature, obesity, or abnormal pubertal progression
- Nuchal Rigidity
- Signs of trauma
- Cranial bruits
Red flag HA characteristics
Wakes child up!!!
- Thunderclap headache or “worst headache of my life”
- Persistent nausea/vomiting, altered mental status, ataxia
- Worse in recumbent position or by vasovagal causes
- Chronic progressive pattern
- Change in quality, severity, frequency, or pattern
Occipital headache - Recurrent and localized
- Duration
- Doesn’t respond to medication
Mnemonic for HA red flags
Systemic symptoms, illness, or condition (eg, fever, weight loss, cancer, pregnancy, immunocompromised state including HIV)
Neurologic symptoms or abnormal signs (eg, confusion, impaired alertness or consciousness, papilledema, focal neurologic symptoms or signs, meningismus, or seizures)
Onset is new (particularly for age >40 years) or sudden (eg, “thunderclap”)
Other associated conditions or features (eg, head trauma, illicit drug use, or toxic exposure; headache awakens from sleep, is worse with Valsalva maneuvers, or is precipitated by cough, exertion, or sexual activity)
Previous headache history with headache progression or change in attack frequency, severity, or clinical features
- Any of these findings should prompt further investigation, including brain imaging with MRI or CT.
Migraine onset: age and gender
- Onset younger in boys (7 years old) than girls (10 years)
At puberty, migraines affect more girls than boys - Changes with puberty as it shifts to girls!
S/S of migraines
Pattern: recurrent episodes that last 2-72 hours if untreated
Pain: throbbing focal pain, moderate to severe intensity, worsens with activity (rapid motion, sneezing, straining)
Migraines = Vasovagal!
- Associated with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and relief with sleep (dark, quiet room)
Stages of migraine w/o aura
Prodrome, HA, postdrome
Characteristics of prodrome
- Euphoria, irritability, social w/drawal
- Food cravings, constipation, neck stiffness, increased yawning
- 24+ hours prior to onset of HA
Characteristics of migraine HA in toddlers
Episodic pallor, decreased activity, vomiting
Characteristics of migraine HA in children
Bifrontal, bitemporal, generalized w/N and photophobia/phonophobia“hurts all over”
Characteristics of migraine HA in teens
- More oftn unilateral than global, gradual onset & severity
- More classic presentation as it gets worse gradually
- Mild-moderate: dull, deep, steady pain
- Severe: throbbing, pulsatile
Characteristics of postdrome
- Exhaustion
* Some people report elation/euphoria
When does aura usually develop w/migraine and how long does it last?
If they have it, usually 30 minutes prior to onset of HA, lasting 5-20 minutes
Most common characteristics of aura
VISUAL: spots in vision, scotoma, visual imagesCan be weak, numbness, tingling, dysphagia instead of visual aura
Less common types of aura
- Sensory: unilateral tingling in limbs or face (including mouth and tongue), followed by numbness for up to 1 hour
- Dysphasia
- Motor weakness (incredibly rare)