Characteristics

  • can occur after head trauma
  • chronic headache if occurs 3 months after head trauma
  • pervious h/o headache, family history are at higher risk of conversion into chronic migraine
  • can sometimes present with features of primary headaches like tension type, migraine or cervicogenic headaches
  • may require frequent analgesics - can sometime lead to medication overuse headache
  • can be complicated by headache relapses
sinus headache
  • over-diagnosed
  • headaches are recurrent and respond to analgesics then migraines should be suspected
  • in the absence of chronic cough, nasal discharge, fever - sinus headache should not be made
medication overuse headache
  • headache more than 15days / month for 3 months with h/o taking analgesics 15 days / month or prescription medication including triptans more than 10 days / month
  • if the patient is complaining of decreased effectiveness following medication, medication overuse headache should be suspected
raised intracranial pressure
  • can be caused by mass, or intrinsic increase in pressure
  • headache is caused by increased pressure on dura
  • idiopathic intracranial hypertension can be caused by increased ingestion of fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, minocycline, hormonal changes, or blocked venous drainage due to causes like mastoiditis
  • MRA or MRV should be performed
  • if headache persist or visual changes present - carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, optic nerve fenestration or shunt need to be considered
other causes
  • arteriovenous malformation, berry aneurysms, collagen vascular diseases, hypertensive encephalopathy, infective etiology, subarachnoid hemorrhage