Headache causes

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Overview

The most important step in diagnosing a headache is for the physician to take a careful history and to examine the patient. In the majority of cases the diagnosis will be tension headache or migraine, both of which can be managed on the basis of a clear-cut clinical picture.

Complete Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Headache

Causes include [1] [2]

Cardiac HypotensionHypertensionMalignant hypertension
Chemical / Poisoning Amnesic shellfish poisoningAnadenanthera peregrinaAntimonyArsenic poisoningArtemisia afraCarbon monoxideCopperCyanideHeavy metal ingestionHemlockHydrogen sulfideLead poisoningManganeseMarine toxinsMonocrotophosNicotine poisoningRadiation poisoningSoil contaminationThalliumToxic headacheWater intoxication
Dermatologic Linear immunoglobulin A dermatosis
Drug Side Effect AcamprosateAcyclovirAlatrofloxacin InjectionAlosetronAmantadineAmbrisentanAminophyllineAmiodaroneAmlodipineAmphotericin BAnagrelideArmodafinilAtorvastatinBenazeprilBepridilBexaroteneBisoprololBosentanBromocriptineButabarbitalButorphanolCabergolineCaffeineCandesartanCapecitabineCarbamazepineCarbimazoleCarmustineCarteololCarvedilolCaspofunginCilansetronCilostazolClomethiazoleCombined oral contraceptive pillCycloserineCyclosporinCefaclorCefamandole Nafate InjectionCefotetanCefdinirCefoperazone Sodium InjectionCalcitriolChelation therapyChlorothiazideChlorthalidoneCilostazolCimetidineClopidogrelCyclosporine InjectionDeferasiroxDexamfetamineDigoxinDiltiazemDimercaprolDinoprostoneDipivefrineDipyridamoleDisopyramideDocosanolDolasetronDofetilideDoxazosinEnalaprilEpinephrineEplerenoneEpoprostenolErgotamineEtanercept InjectionEthacrynic AcidEthanolEthosuximideEzetimibeFelodipineFenofibrateFenoldopamFlu vaccineFluorouracilFluoxetineFluvastatinEpinephrineFosinoprilFurosemideGanciclovirGemeprostGlyceryl trinitrateGranisetronGriseofulvinGyromitrinIndomethacinInsulin lisproInfluenza vaccineImatinib mesylateInterleukin 2Isosorbide dinitrateIsosorbide mononitrate • Lerisetron • LevosimendanLofepramineLomotilLisurideMefloquine MemantineMethimazoleMetronidazoleMethyprylonModafinilMonosodium glutamateMoricizineNicorandilNifedipineNitrendipineNitroglycerineNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsOxtriphyllineOxytocin injectionOmalizumabOndansetronPalonosetron • Pemirolast • PergolidePimecrolimusPiribedilPropylthiouracilQuinidineQuinineRasagiline • Reproterol • RoflumilastRopiniroleSalbutamolSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitorSildenafilSodium nitrite • Sulprostone • TadalafilTrabectedinTrimeprazineTrimethobenzamide • Tribavirin • TrimethadioneTropisetronVardenafilVitamin AZafirlukastZileutonZomepirac
Ear Nose Throat Angina tonsillarisNasal polypOtitis externaOtitis mediaPharyngitisRhinolithPeritonsillar abscessStrep throatSinusitisTrochleitisTonsillitisUpper respiratory tract infection
Endocrine AcromegalyAddison's diseaseConn syndromeDiabetes mellitusHypoglycemiaHyperaldosteronismHyperparathyroidismHyperpituitarismInsulinomaMenopausePituitary tumour (growth hormone secreting) • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Environmental Conditions AirsicknessAltitude sicknessBrain freezeDiesel particulate matterHeat stroke • Ice cream headache • Multiple chemical sensitivitySecond-hand smoke
Gastroenterologic Crohn's diseaseInflammatory Bowel Disease
Genetic • No underlying causes •
Hematologic AnemiaBlood transfusionLeukemiaMultiple myeloma
Infectious Disease Acute Disseminated EncephalomyelitisAcute viral nasopharyngitis (common cold)AdenoiditisAIDSAlkhurma virusAnaplasmosisAseptic meningitisAspergillus clavatusAstrovirusBlastomycosisBolivian hemorrhagic feverByssinosisBrucellosisBruxismBoutonneuse feverCampylobacteriosisCalifornia encephalitis virusChagas diseaseChikungunyaCladosporiumCotton feverCoxsackie BCryptococcosisCysticercosisDengue fever • Dental infection • EbolaEncephalitisFeverFeverfewFreshers' FluGiardia lambliaGlioblastoma multiformeGradenigo's syndromeGroup A streptococcal infectionHaemophilus influenzae serotype B infectionHangoverHantavirusHay feverHarvest miteHenipavirusHerpes zosterHepatitisHerpesviridaeHIVJapanese encephalitis[ • Hymenolepis infectionInfluenza • Intracranial abscess / granuloma • Lábrea feverLegionellosisLeptospirosisListeriosisLyme diseaseMalariaMarburg virusMansonelliasisMeningococcemiaMeningoencephalitisMetabolic acidosisMetal fume feverMononucleosisMicropolyspora faeniMonkeypox virusMucormycosisMumpsMycoplasma pneumoniaeNaegleria fowleriNaegleria infectionNeisseria meningitidisNipah virus encephalitisNocardiosisNorovirusOropouche feverPityriasis roseaPsittacosisQ feverRamsay Hunt syndromesRat-bite feverRelapsing feverRhinovirusRickettsial infectionsRift valley feverRoss River FeverRocky Mountain spotted feverRubellaSaccharopolyspora rectivirgulaSnakebiteScarlet feverScrumpoxShinglesSiraitia grosvenoriiSitophilus granariusSodokuSt. Louis encephalitisStaphylococcal enteritisStreptobacillusSyphilisThermoactinomyces sacchariThermoactinomyces vulgarisTrench feverTrichinosisTuberculous meningitisTularemiaTyphoid feverViral GastroenteritisViral Hepatitis CWest Nile VirusYellow feverYersinia Pestis InfectionZika fever
Musculoskeletal / Ortho Cervical spondylosisTemporomandibular joint disorder
Neurologic Acoustic neuromaApoplexyArachnoid cystArcuate foramenAcute disseminated encephalomyelitisArnold nerve cough syndromeEpilepsyIdiopathic intracranial hypertensionMultiple sclerosisPituitary apoplexyPosterior cervical sympathetic syndromePosterior leucoencephalopathy syndromeRaised intracranial pressureSpinal autonomic dysreflexiaWest syndrome
Nutritional / Metabolic Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency
Obstetrics & Gynecology EclampsiaPre-eclampsiaPregnancyPremenstrual syndrome
Oncologic Acoustic neuromaAdrenal carcinomaAdrenal tumorAstrocytomaAtypical Teratoid Rhabdoid TumorBrain tumorBrain Stem GliomasCarcinoid tumours and carcinoid syndromeCraniopharyngiomaEpendymomaGliomatosis cerebriMedulloblastomaMeningiomaOligoastrocytomaPhaeochromocytomaPolycythaemia rubra veraSubdural hygromaTongue cancer
Opthalmologic Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathyAneisokoniaAsthenopiaComputer vision syndromeOcular NeurosisOculogyric crisisProgressive lenses
Overdose / Toxicity Acute alcohol intoxicationAlcohol withdrawalAlcoholismMedication overuse
Psychiatric Anxiety disorder • Functional disorders • Primary affective disorder • Chronic stressClinical depressionWorkplace stressGulf War syndrome
Pulmonary Acute bronchitisBird breeder's lungBird fancier's lungCheese worker's lungChemical worker's lungCoughCommunity-acquired pneumoniaGrain handler's lungHot tub lungHumidifier lungHypersensitivity pneumonitisLower respiratory tract infectionMalt worker's lungNylon worker's lungObesity hypoventilation syndromePaprika splitter's lung
Renal / Electrolyte Diabetic nephropathyHypercalcemiaHyponatremia
Rheum / Auto Immune / Allergy Antiphospholipid syndromePolymyalgia rheumaticaSystemic lupus erythematosusTakayasu arteritisTemporal arteritisWegener's granulomatosis
Trauma Cervical spine trauma • Dental trauma •
Vascular Diseases & Malformations Arteriovenous malformationBerry aneurysmCarotid artery dissectionCavernous angiomaCavernous Sinus ThrombosisCerebral venous sinus thrombosis • Cerebellar infarction • Cerebral aneurysmCerebral arteriovenous malformationCerebrovascular accidentCerebrovascular diseaseEpidural hematoma • Intracranial haemorrhage • Migraine • Posterior communicating artery aneurysm • Subarachnoid haemorrhageSuperior vena cava syndromeVascular headache • Vertebral artery dissection • Vertebro-basilar artery syndrome •
Miscellaneous Agastache rugosaBearberryCluster headacheColloid cyst of third ventricleHepatic failureIntracranial space-occupying lesionParoxysmal hemicrania, chronicParry-Romberg syndromeReversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndromeSpontaneous intracranial hypotensionStanding (position)Thunderclap headache

References

  1. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016
  2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X