Headaches Flashcards
1
Q
How common are appointment for headaches in primary care?
A
4.4 consultations per 100 registered patients
2
Q
What percentage of neurology referrals are due to headaches?
A
25-30%
3
Q
What are types of primary headaches?
A
Migraine, cluster, tension-type
4
Q
What are types secondary headaches?
A
Meningitis, SAH, giant cell arteritis, Intracranial HTN, medication overuse
5
Q
what are ‘other’ types of headaches?
A
Trigeminal neuralgia, painful cranial neuropathies
6
Q
What is important to ask in a headache history?
A
- Age over 50
- Hx of HIV, cancer, trauma?
- Personality change?
- cognitive dysfunction?
- Jaw claudication?
- Visual disturbance or eye pain?
- Sudden onset? thunderclap?
- focal neurological symptoms? - limb weakness?
- Exercise/valsalva? e.g. coughing, laughing, straining?
7
Q
What are red flags in a headache presentation?
A
- New headache with history of cancer
- Cluster headache
- Seizure
- Sig. altered consciousness, memory, confusion, coordination
- Papilloedema
- Abnormal neuro exam or symptom
8
Q
When does a headache warrant an immediate referral?
A
- Thunderclap headache
- seizure and new headache
- suspected meningitis or encephalitis
- acute glaucoma (red eye)
- headache with new focal neurology
