Headaches Flashcards
Considerations for sudden (thunderclap) headaches
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Pituitary apoplexy
Bleed into a tumor/AV malformation
Brain tumor
Tests for sudden headache
CT
MRI/MRA
Lumbare puncture
Considerations for headache that presents during exertion
Leaking cerebral aneurysm
AV malformation
What are the most common congenital cerebral aneurysms?
Anterior circulation-related (85%)
Specifically:
Anterior communicating
Middle cerebral
What are signs of meningeal irritation?
Kernig sign (resistance to full extension of leg at knee when hip flexed) Brudzinski sign (flexion of both hips and knees when neck flexed passively)
What are signs of pituitary apoplexy?
Abrupt headache Followed by: Loss of sight Diplopia (pituitary is right near optic chiasm) Drowsiness Confusion/AMA Coma
What is the intracranial pressure triad?
Headache (frontal, parietal, or occipital)
Nausea/vomiting
Papilledema
Considerations and clinical approach for headaches that show an accelerating pattern
Brain tumor
Subdural hematoma
Medication overuse
What should be done:
MRI / MRA
Drug History / Drug Screen
Considerations and clinical approach for new onset headache in a patient with history of cancer or HIV
Meninigitis
Brain abscess (including toxoplasmosis)
Metastasis
What should be done:
MRI / MRA
LP
Considerations and clinical approach for new onset headache with fever, stiff neck, or rash
Meningitis Encephalitis Lyme disease Systemic infection Connective tissue disease
What should be done:
MRI / MRA
LP
Blood tests (CBC, ESR, ANA, Lyme Titre)
What is the difference between encephalitis and meningitis?
Encephalitis: infection of brain substance
Meningitis: infection of spinal fluid
Headaches associated with high/low blood pressure
Hypertensive/ischemic headache
Course of action if the patient has nuchal rigidity on physical exam
- Rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage–immediate CT scan
- If normal, hospitalize and perform LP to rule out meningitis
- Blood in fluid–>transfer to neurologist
- Clear fluid–>send to lab for cell count, gram stain, glucose, protein, and culture
What is meningism and what is it associated with?
The symptoms and signs of meningitis associated with an acute febrile illness or dehydration, but no actual infection of the meninges. Work up for meningitis anyway.
Possible etiologies for papilledema
- Brain tumor
- Meningitis
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri)
What does papilledema most likely represent?
Increased intracranial pressure
What are the Big Four headaches?
- Migraine
- -with aura
- -without aura
- -atypical - Muscle contraction headache
- -episodic
- -chronic
- -atypical - Cluster headache
- -episodic
- -chronic - Secondary headache disorders
Patient presents with throbbing headache and associated nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and sonophobia. Neuro exam normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Migraine
25 y/o male presents with headache that woke him from sleep throughout the night. States pain moves around–not focused in one place. Presents with unilateral conjunctival injection, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea. Neuro exam relatively normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Cluster headache
When do cluster headaches typically occur?
Fall or spring
Usually nocturnal
Average frequency 1-3 in 24 hours, lasting 15 minutes-3 hours
If a patient prefers to be upright and moving around, as opposed to lying still, what type of headache do they likely have?
Cluster
What is the principal source of pain in cluster headaches?
Dilation of the internal and external carotid arteries
Which serum levels are increased during a period of cluster headaches?
Serotonin and histamine (may be allergy-related)
What OMT should be utilized during a cluster headache?
NONE, YOU DUMB SHIT
OMT can exacerbate or prolong the head pain
Abortive treatment for cluster headache
100% O2 15-20 minutes
Subcutaneous sumatriptan injection (6 mg)
IM or IV dihydroergotamine 1.0 mg
Intranasal lidocaine 4-6% drops
Which headache type is most similar to a cluster headache?
Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania
30 y/o female presents with series of acute headaches, approximately 10 episodes per day lasting 5-20 minutes. Pain localized to one side of head. Denies lacrimation, rhinorrhea, nausea or vomiting. Neuro and CT normal. What is the most likely diagnosis and course of action?
Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania
Give NSAID or indomethacin
Which cluster headache symptoms are absent in CPH?
Symptoms of unilateral headache (lacrimation, rhinorrhea, and miosis)
Considerations for headache associated with nausea and vomiting
Migraine Cluster Brain tumor Vascular bleed Meningitis Idiopathic intracranial hypertension Encephalitis