Headaches Flashcards
What are the 4 different onsets of headaches?
Acute, recurrent acute, subacute, chronic
What are some differentials of acute onset headaches?
meningitis, subarachnoid haemorrhage, encephalitis, acute glaucoma, sinusitis, head injury, gtn spray
What are some differentials of recurrent acute?
Migraine, cluster headache, coital headache, tension headache, medication-induced headache
What is a type of subacute headache?
Giant cell ateritis
What are some differentials of chronic headaches?
raised ICP due to hydrocephalus, space occupying lesion or benign raised intracranial pressure
What are the common triggers of Migraines
Chocolate Hormones Oral contraceptive Caffeine Obesity Lights Alcohol Travel Exercise Others - cheese, pregnancy, common around puberty, menstruation, menopause
What are the aura features of a migraine with aura?
Aura fully reversible
Visual, sensory, motor or language symptom (aura)
Aura duration 20-60mins
Headache follows <1hour
What are the general symptoms of a migraine?
throbbing sensation photophobia unilateral pain begins locally then spreads vomiting sensitivity to pain and stimuli no neurological signs
What are the symptoms of a basilar migraine?
tongue tingling, vertigo, diplopia, visual disturbance, dysarthria, ataxia
What is the feature of a facioplegic migraine?
Unilateral face weakness
What are the other less common types of migraines?
Acephalgic, retinal, opthalmic, hemiplegic, abdominal
What is the diagnostic criteria of a migraine with aura?
headaches lasting 4/72 hours with aura
What are the diagnostic criteria of a migraine without aura?
at least 5 attacks
duration 4-72 hours
2 of: moderate/severe, unilateral, throbbing pain, worse movement
1 of: autonomic features, photophobia/phonophobia
What investigations could you consider in those presenting with migraine symptoms?
ESR
LP
CSF culture
CT head
What is the non-pharmacological management of migraines?
set realistic goals education headache diary relaxation/stress management diet, hydration, regular exercise
What is the acute pharmacological of migraines?
offer combination therapy with a oral triptan (sumatriptain) and an NSAID (aspirin), or an oral triptan AND paracetamol
What is the prophylactic management of migraines?
1st line - topiramate or propranolol
Others - amitriptyline
What is the underlying pathophysiology of tension headaches?
increased tension in scalp muscles and neurovascular irritation, raised cortisol levels?
triggers of tension heads
stress, noise, concentrated visual effort, funes
clinical symptoms of tension headaches
bilateral, tight band sensation, radiate to neck, pressure behind the eyes, throbbing sensation, not sensitive to head movement, no nausea, absense of photo/phonophobia