Author: Clifford J Mann / Editor: Andrew Parfitt / Reviewer: Jamie Sillett, Mohamed Elwakil / Code: A5 / Published: 07/02/2022
Description:
Acute, severe headache is a common symptom of patients presenting to the emergency department. In 90% of cases, the cause will be one of the primary headache syndromes.
After completing this session you will be able to:
- Describe a pragmatic, focussed method of eliciting the relevant history of an acute headache
- List an appropriate differential diagnosis for acute headaches
- Explain a logical method to rule in, or rule out, the principle causes of acute headaches
- Recognise when primary headache syndromes require further investigation
References:
- Detsky ME, McDonald DR, Baerlocher MO, Tomlinson GA, McCrory DC, Booth CM. Does this patient with headache have a migraine or need neuroimaging? JAMA. 2006 Sep 13;296(10):1274-83.
- Steiner TJS, MacGregor E, Davies PT. A proposed hierarchy of treatment with Triptans. Guidelines for all doctors in the management and diagnosis of Migraine and tension type headache. 2nd Ed. 2004.
- Matchar D, Young W, et al. Evidence based guidelines for migraine headache in the primary care setting; pharmacological management of acute attacks. Neurology. 55. 2000.
