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Headache - assessment - Background information
What is it?

  • Headache is a symptom of many disorders.
  • The International classification of headache disorders distinguishes [Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society, 2005]:
    • The primary headache disorders, in which there is no other condition causing the headache. These include:
      • Migraine.
      • Tension-type headache.
      • Cluster headache, and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.
      • Other rare primary headaches, such as hemicrania continua.
    • The secondary headache disorders, in which the headache can be attributed to another condition, including:
      • Head and neck trauma, such as whiplash injury or sub-dural haematoma.
      • Cranial or cervical vascular disorders, such as giant cell arteritis, transient ischaemic attack, and stroke.
      • Non-vascular intracranial disorders, such as intracranial neoplasm.
      • A substance or its withdrawal, such as adverse effects of nitrates, medication-overuse headache, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
      • Infection, such as intracranial abscess, meningitis, encephalitis, or headache due to systemic infection.
      • Disorders of homoeostasis, such as headache associated with fasting or sleep apnoea.
      • Disorders of structures of the head and neck, such as sinusitis or acute glaucoma.
      • Psychiatric disorders, such as headache due to a somatization disorder.
    • The cranial neuralgias and central causes of facial pain, including:
      • Trigeminal neuralgia.
      • Glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
      • Postherpetic neuralgia.

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