Headache Red Flags
Revision as of 17:55, 20 October 2014 by Rossdonaldson1 (talk | contribs)
Headache Red Flags
Features
- Sudden onset or accelerating pattern
- Maximum intensity of pain at onset (i.e. "thunderclap")
- Worse with valsalva
- Worse in the morning or at night
- No similar headache in past
- Age >50 yr or <5 yr
- Occipitonuchal headache
- Visual disturbances
- Exertional or postcoital
- Family or personal history of SAH, cerebral aneurysm, or AVM
- Focal neurologic signs
- Diastolic BP >120
- Papilledema
- Jaw claudication
Clinical Context
Headache in setting of:
- Infection
- Cancer
- Immunosuppression
- Seizure
- Syncope
- Trauma
- Altered mental status
- Systemic illness (fever, stiff neck, rash)
- Nausea/vomiting
- Patient on anticoagulation, steroids, NSAIDs, antiplatelet
See Also
Source
- UpToDate