ABSTRACT
The constellation of fevers accompanied by headache and vomiting is a red flag for clinicians that appropriately triggers evaluation for meningitis and other life-threatening diagnoses. When symptoms persist even after these conditions are ruled out, patient care becomes more challenging. We present the case of a 6-year-old male with a history of autism spectrum disorder who presented with 6 months of headaches and associated vomiting and intermittent fevers with negative infectious workup despite cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Serial neuroimaging and laboratory evaluation ultimately led to a diagnosis of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) presenting as aseptic meningitis. The clinical and radiographic findings of MOGAD are widely variable and overlap with several other inflammatory conditions, which makes diagnosis challenging. This case highlights the importance of recognizing this rare MOGAD presentation as an infectious meningitis mimic.
Subject(s)
Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein , Humans , Male , Diagnosis, Differential , Child , Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein/immunology , Headache Disorders/etiology , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Meningitis, Aseptic/diagnosis , Meningitis/diagnosis , Headache/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Persistent headache is a frequent symptom after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and there is currently limited knowledge about its clinical spectrum and predisposing factors. A subset of patients may be experiencing new daily persistent headache (NDPH) after COVID-19, which is among the most treatment-refractory primary headache syndromes. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Latin America to characterize individuals with persistent headache after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and to identify factors associated with NDPH. Participants over 18 years old who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and reported persistent headache among their symptoms completed an online survey that included demographics, past medical history, persistent headache clinical characteristics, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Based on participants' responses, NDPH diagnostic criteria were used to group participants into NDPH and non-NDPH groups. Participant data was summarized by descriptive statistics. Student's t and Mann-Whitney U tests were used according to the distribution of quantitative variables. For categorical variables, Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used according to the size of expected frequencies. Binomial logistic regression using the backward stepwise selection method was performed to identify factors associated with NDPH. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-one participants from 11 Latin American countries met the inclusion criteria. One in four participants met the NDPH diagnostic criteria. The mean age was 40 years, with most participants being female (82%). Over 90% of the participants reported having had mild/moderate COVID-19. Most participants had a history of headache before developing COVID-19 (58%), mainly migraine type (32%). The most predominant clinical characteristics in the NDPH group were occipital location, severe/unbearable intensity, burning character, and radiating pain (p < 0.05). A higher proportion of anxiety symptoms, sleep problems, myalgia, mental fog, paresthesia, nausea, sweating of the face or forehead, and ageusia or hypogeusia as concomitant symptoms were reported in participants with NDPH (p < 0.05). Palpebral edema as a concomitant symptom during the acute phase of COVID-19, occipital location, and burning character of the headache were risk factors associated with NDPH. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Latin America that explored the clinical spectrum of NDPH after SARS-CoV-2 infection and its associated factors. Clinical evaluation of COVID-19 patients presenting with persistent headache should take into consideration NDPH.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Headache Disorders , Humans , Female , Adult , Adolescent , Male , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Latin America/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19 Vaccines , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/etiology , Headache/epidemiology , Headache/etiologyABSTRACT
Background Accumulating evidence suggests various specific triggers may lead to new daily persistent headache (NDPH)-like presentations, suggesting that new daily persistent headache is a heterogenous syndrome, and challenging the concept that new daily persistent headache is a primary headache disorder.Method We searched the PubMed database up to August 2022 for keywords including persistent daily headache with both primary and secondary etiologies. We summarized the literature and provided a narrative review of the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-ups, possible pathophysiology, treatment response, and clinical outcomes.Results and conclusion New daily persistent headache is a controversial but clinically important topic. New daily persistent headache is likely not a single entity but a syndrome with different etiologies. The issue with past studies of new daily persistent headache is that patients with different etiologies/subtypes were pooled together. Different studies may investigate distinct subsets of patients, which renders the inter-study comparison, both positive and negative results, difficult. The identification (and removal) of a specific trigger might provide the opportunity for clinical improvement in certain patients, even when the disease has lasted for months or years. Nonetheless, if there is a specific trigger, it remains unknown or unidentified for a great proportion of the patients. We need to continue to study this unique headache population to better understand underlying pathogenesis and, most importantly, to establish effective treatment strategies that hopefully resolve the continuous cycle of pain.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders , Humans , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/etiology , Headache Disorders/therapy , Headache/diagnosis , Headache/etiology , Treatment Outcome , Syndrome , Databases, FactualABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the incidence of typical and atypical headaches and outcomes following various treatments in patients with Chiari I malformation. BACKGROUND: Headache is the most common symptom of Chiari malformation, which can be divided into typical and atypical subgroups to facilitate management. Much controversy surrounds the etiology, prevalence and optimal therapeutic approach for both types of headaches. METHOD: We identified relevant studies published before 30 July 2022, with an electronic search of numerous literature databases. The results of this study were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. RESULT: A total of 1913 Chiari malformation type I CIM patients were identified, 78% of whom presented with headache, within this group cephalgia was typical in 48% and atypical in 29% of patients, and migraine was the most common type of atypical headache. The ratio of typical/atypical headaches with international classification of headache disorders diagnosis was 1.53, and without international classification of headache disorders diagnosis was 1.56, respectively. The pooled improvement rates of typical headaches following conservative treatment, extradural decompression and intradural decompression were 69%, 88%, and 92%, respectively. The corresponding improvement rates for atypical headaches were 70%, 57.47%, and 69%, respectively. The complication rate in extradural decompression group was significantly lower than in intradural decompression group (RR, 0.31; 95% CI: 0.06-1.59, I2 = 50%, P = 0.14). Low reoperation rates were observed for refractory headaches in extradural decompression and intradural decompression groups (1%). CONCLUSION: The International Classification of Headache Disorders can assist in screening atypical headaches. extradural decompression is preferred for typical headaches, while conservative therapy is optimal for atypical headaches. A definite correlation exists between atypical headaches and Chiari Malformation Type I patients with higher prevalence than in the general population. Importantly, decompression is effective in relieving headaches in this particular patient population.
Subject(s)
Arnold-Chiari Malformation , Headache Disorders , Humans , Arnold-Chiari Malformation/complications , Arnold-Chiari Malformation/epidemiology , Arnold-Chiari Malformation/surgery , Treatment Outcome , Prevalence , Decompression, Surgical/methods , Headache/diagnosis , Headache/epidemiology , Headache/etiology , Headache Disorders/etiology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Investigate the use of nasal endoscopy, sinus imaging, and neurologic evaluation in patients presenting to a rhinologist primarily for craniofacial pain. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive outpatients presenting to a rhinologist between 2016 and 2019 with chief complaints of craniofacial pain with or without other sinonasal symptoms, who were then referred to and evaluated by headache specialists. Data analyzed included sinusitis symptoms, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores (and facial pain subscores), pain location, nasal endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) findings, and headache diagnoses made by headache specialists. RESULTS: Of the 134 patients with prominent craniofacial pain, the majority of patients were diagnosed with migraine (50%) or tension-type (22%) headache, followed by multiple other non-sinogenic headache disorders. Approximately 5% of patients had headaches attributed to sinusitis. Amongst all patients, 90% had negative nasal endoscopies. Patients with negative endoscopies were significantly less likely to report smell loss (P = .003) compared to those with positive endoscopies. Poor agreement was demonstrated between self-reported pain locations and sinus findings on CT (kappa values < 0.20). Negative nasal endoscopy showed high concurrence with negative CT findings (80%-97%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with chief complaints of craniofacial pain generally met criteria for various non-sinogenic headache disorders. Nasal endoscopy was negative in 90% of patients, and CT demonstrated poor agreement with pain locations. Nasal endoscopy and CT shared high concurrence rates for negative sinus findings. The value of nasal endoscopy over sinus imaging in craniofacial pain evaluation should be explored in future studies.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders , Sinusitis , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Headache/diagnosis , Headache/etiology , Facial Pain/diagnosis , Facial Pain/etiology , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/etiology , EndoscopyABSTRACT
Obesity and headache disorders are two very common conditions in the general population that have been increasing in incidence over the last decades. Recent studies have shown a significant relationship between obesity and headaches, particularly migraine, with an important role in whether the disease is chronic. On the other hand, no such association was found with tension-type headaches. Studies showing an overlapping of hunger-control pathways and those involved in the pathophysiology of migraine may justify the close association between obesity and migraine. Moreover, a secondary headache for which obesity is a strong risk factor is idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), with several studies showing the impact of weight reduction/bariatric surgery in the treatment of the disease. In conclusion, since obesity is a modifiable risk factor, it is important for physicians treating patients with headaches, and particularly migraine, to be aware of the association between these two disorders.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders , Migraine Disorders , Pseudotumor Cerebri , Headache/complications , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Migraine Disorders/complications , Obesity/complications , Pseudotumor Cerebri/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Headache is a common symptom with etiologies that are difficult to distinguish, 1 of which is sinusitis. A solitary sphenoid lesion, which is rare, can also cause acute or chronic headaches. The authors investigated whether endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for solitary sphenoid lesions could reduce headache symptoms. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the charts of patients who underwent ESS from 2012 to 2017, whose main symptom was a chronic headache for several years. There were no remarkable pathologic findings in the nasal cavity upon endoscopic examination. Medications for reducing headaches had transient effect. Brain magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scans showed a solitary sphenoid lesion and the patients underwent ESS by the same otolaryngologist. In total, 16 out of 547 ESS cases that met the above conditions were included in this study. The authors evaluated the duration, character, and degree of the headaches pre- and post-operatively. The authors also determined if there was a correlation between headaches, sphenoidal lesions, and pathologic outcomes. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in headaches after surgery. The pre- and post-operative mean visual analog scale score for headaches was 7.27â±â1.67 and 3.80â±â1.82, respectively. The pathologic outcomes revealed chronic inflammation in 11 patients, nasal polyp in 1 patient, inverted papilloma in 1 patient, and fungal infections in 3 patients, but there was no clinical correlation between the headache, lesion site, and pathology. CONCLUSIONS: A solitary sphenoid lesion can be the cause of acute or chronic headaches. Headaches from a solitary sphenoid sinus lesion, which were not controlled by medical treatments, could be improved by surgical procedures.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders , Sinusitis , Endoscopy/methods , Headache/diagnosis , Headache/etiology , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Sinusitis/complications , Sphenoid Sinus/diagnostic imaging , Sphenoid Sinus/surgeryABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Headache has been cited as both a primary symptom and a sequela of infection with the novel coronavirus. Cases of long coronavirus disease (COVID) headache have already been documented in adults, but literature on similar cases in children and adolescents is scant. CASE REPORT: We present three cases of persistent headache after infection with COVID-19 in pediatric patients presenting to a tertiary headache center. CONCLUSION: Infection has been suggested as a trigger for chronic headaches, specifically those of the new daily persistent headache type. Although the association between new daily persistent headache and COVID-19 remains unclear, these cases highlight the importance of awareness of the neurological sequelae of novel coronavirus infection in children and adolescents.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Headache Disorders , Adolescent , Adult , COVID-19/complications , Child , Disease Progression , Headache/etiology , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Epidural analgesia is the preferred method to manage pain during labor and delivery. The insertion of the epidural catheter can be complicated by unintentional dural puncture that may result in postdural puncture headache. There is limited evidence on the long-term implications of this complication. We sought to investigate if women who sustained a dural puncture have a higher risk of developing chronic headache, low back pain and visual or auditory impairment. METHODS: We conducted a 1:1 case-control study with women who delivered at our institution from January 2015 to December 2019. Cases were women who received epidural analgesia and sustained an unintentional dural puncture, and controls were women who received epidural analgesia but did not sustain such complication. We matched cases and controls for date of delivery, age, and body mass index. All women completed an online survey with validated questionnaires for diagnosis of chronic headache and chronic back pain. We used dichotomic (yes/no) questions to look for the presence of chronic visual and auditory impairment. RESULTS: Sixty-three case-control pairs were studied. Women who sustained a dural puncture during their epidural catheter insertion had a higher risk of developing chronic headache (14.3%, vs 4.8%, p=0.057, adjusted OR (AOR): 3.67 (95% CI 1.05 to 12.82)) and chronic back pain (39.7% vs 19.1%, p=0.009, AOR: 2.67 (95% CI 1.25 to 5.72)) than women who did not sustain a dural puncture. The incidence of chronic auditory impairment was also higher in the dural puncture group (14.3% vs 1.6%, p=0.01, AOR: 9.98 (95% CI 1.21 to 82.62)). CONCLUSIONS: An unintentional dural puncture during epidural catheter insertion in parturients is associated with increased risk of chronic headache, back pain and auditory impairment.
Subject(s)
Analgesia, Epidural , Analgesia, Obstetrical , Headache Disorders , Post-Dural Puncture Headache , Analgesia, Epidural/adverse effects , Analgesia, Obstetrical/adverse effects , Back Pain/etiology , Blood Patch, Epidural/adverse effects , Case-Control Studies , Female , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Male , Post-Dural Puncture Headache/diagnosis , Post-Dural Puncture Headache/epidemiology , Post-Dural Puncture Headache/etiology , Punctures/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The middle meningeal artery (MMA) has been implicated in chronic headaches, but no studies have examined the relationship between MMA embolization and headaches. METHODS: Patients treated with MMA embolization for a chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively assessed. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15 at discharge received a follow-up telephone call to assess their history of chronic headache, defined as a headache ≥2 years before the cSDH and symptoms ≥2 days/month. A Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) was performed during the follow-up telephone call. The primary outcome was resolution or improvement of headaches after embolization. RESULTS: Of 76 patients undergoing MMA embolization for a cSDH during the study period, 56 (74%) had a discharge GCS score of 15. Of these 56 patients, 46 (82%) responded to a follow-up telephone call and were analyzed (mean [SD] age 68 [11] years; 36 [78%] men and 10 [22%] women). Nine (20%) reported chronic headaches before embolization. With a mean (SD) follow-up of 489 (173) days, eight of the nine patients reported improvement of chronic headaches, with seven having complete resolution. For these nine patients, the mean (SD) HIT-6 score was significantly higher before embolization than after embolization (64 [7.1] vs 40 [9.1], p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic headaches who underwent MMA embolization for a cSDH, the majority reported improvement of headaches after the procedure. Future prospective studies are warranted to assess the usefulness of MMA embolization to treat chronic headaches.
Subject(s)
Embolization, Therapeutic , Headache Disorders , Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic , Aged , Embolization, Therapeutic/methods , Female , Headache Disorders/etiology , Headache Disorders/therapy , Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic/diagnostic imaging , Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic/therapy , Humans , Male , Meningeal Arteries/diagnostic imaging , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Headache has a variety of types, such as episodic primary headaches (EPH) and chronic primary headache (CPH) in its primary form. There is a positive correlation between these two types of headaches and hypertension (HTN), but in some works this correlation has been reported negatively. Therefore, we planned to study HTN-CPH as well as HTN-EPH correlation in our population. A sample of Rafsanjan population (10,000 individuals) entered the cohort study, as one of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN). We compared the frequency of HTN categories in CPH and EPH cases with a normal population. Out of 9933 participants (46.6% males and 53.4% females) about 29% had EPH and 7.5% had CPH. HTN was found in 24.27% of EPH cases and 31.98% of CPH cases. HTN was also found to be associated with EPH and CPH in the crude model. Two Categories of HTN (Long controlled and uncontrolled) were not associated with EPH. On the other hand, CPH showed associations with all of the HTN categories. After included all variables and confounders, EPH and CPH had association with HTN without any considerable changes. There is strong HTN-EPH as well as HTN-CPH correlations in the studied population.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders/epidemiology , Headache Disorders/etiology , Headache/epidemiology , Headache/etiology , Hypertension/complications , Hypertension/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Chronic Disease , Cohort Studies , Data Analysis , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Humans , Iran/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
A mucocele is a cystic and expansive lesion of the sinus cavities. It is uncommon in the sphenoid sinus and its management is quite challenging especially in low to middle income countries like Cameroon. A 43-years-old female was referred to us by a neurologist for chronic headache and visual disturbances. The pain was unresponsive to analgesics. Physical examination was non-remarkable and a head CT scan realized showed a cyst-like lesion in the sphenoid sinus cavity. Surgical endoscopic treatment was proposed and realized with basic endoscopic instruments, consisting of opening the cavity with drainage of the mucocele. A large opening was made on the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus, in order to ensure continuous drainage and prevent a recurrence. Sphenoid sinus mucocele is a rare condition, and its diagnosis can be difficult. Confirmation requires specific imaging and treatment is presently well established, but it can be managed with basic tools.
Subject(s)
Mucocele/diagnostic imaging , Paranasal Sinus Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Sphenoid Sinus/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Cameroon , Drainage , Endoscopy , Female , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Mucocele/surgery , Paranasal Sinus Diseases/surgery , Sphenoid Sinus/surgery , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Vision Disorders/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients seeking trigger site deactivation surgery for headaches often have debilitating symptoms that can affect their functional and mental health. Although prior studies have shown a strong correlation between psychiatric variables and chronic headaches, their associations in patients undergoing surgery have not been fully elucidated. This study aims to analyze psychiatric comorbidities and their impact on patients undergoing trigger site deactivation surgery for headaches. METHODS: One hundred forty-two patients were prospectively enrolled. Patients were asked to complete the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and Migraine Headache Index surveys preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively. Data on psychiatric comorbidities were collected by means of both survey and retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 38 percent of patients self-reported a diagnosis of depression, and 45 percent of patients met Patient Health Questionnaire-2 criteria for likely major depressive disorder (Patient Health Questionnaire-2 score of ≥3). Twenty-seven percent of patients reported a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder. Patients with depression and anxiety reported more severe headache symptoms at baseline. At 1 year postoperatively, patients with these conditions had successful surgical outcomes comparable to those of patients without these conditions. Patients also reported a significant decrease in their Patient Health Questionnaire-2 score, with 22 percent of patients meeting criteria suggestive of depression, compared to 45 percent preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients undergoing trigger site deactivation surgery. Patients with these comorbid conditions achieve successful surgical outcomes comparable to those of the general surgical headache population. Furthermore, trigger site deactivation surgery is associated with a significant decrease in depressive symptoms.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology , Headache Disorders/surgery , Neurosurgical Procedures/statistics & numerical data , Trigger Points/surgery , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Comorbidity , Depressive Disorder, Major/diagnosis , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/epidemiology , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Health Questionnaire , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unintentional dural puncture with an epidural needle complicates approximately 1% of epidural anaesthetics and causes an acute headache in 60-80% of these patients. Several retrospective studies suggest an increased risk of chronic headache. We assessed the relationship between unintentional dural puncture and chronic disabling headache, defined as one or more functionally limiting headaches within a 2-week interval ending 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, parturients who experienced unintentional dural puncture were matched 1:4 with control patients. Patients completed questionnaires regarding characteristics of headache and back pain pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, immediately postpartum, and at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. The primary outcome was prevalence of disabling headache in the past 2 weeks, assessed at 2 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes included prevalence and characteristics of headache and back pain at these time points. RESULTS: We enrolled 99 patients. At 2 and 6 months postpartum, the prevalence of disabling headache was greater among patients with unintentional dural puncture than matched controls (2 months, 74% vs 38%, relative risk 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.9, P=0.009; 6 months, 56% vs 25%, relative risk 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.0, P=0.033). There was no difference in the prevalence of back pain at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: Our prospective trial confirms retrospective studies that chronic headache is more prevalent among women who experienced unintentional dural puncture compared with controls who received uncomplicated neuraxial anaesthesia. This finding has implications for the. patient consent process and recommendations for long-term follow-up of patients who experience unintentional dural puncture.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Epidural/adverse effects , Headache Disorders/etiology , Post-Dural Puncture Headache/etiology , Postpartum Period , Adult , Anesthesia, Epidural/methods , Anesthesia, Obstetrical/adverse effects , Anesthesia, Obstetrical/methods , Back Pain/epidemiology , Cohort Studies , Female , Headache Disorders/epidemiology , Humans , Post-Dural Puncture Headache/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Risk , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Persistent headache attributed to whiplash (PHAW) is defined as a headache that occurs for the first time in close temporal relation to whiplash lasting more than 3 months. We investigated the results of decompression of the greater occipital nerve (GON) in patients with PHAW who presented with referred trigeminal facial pain caused by sensitization of the trigeminocervical complex) along with occipital headache. METHODS: A 1-year follow-up study of GON decompression was conducted in 7 patients with PHAW manifesting referred facial trigeminal pain. The degree of pain reduction was analyzed using the numeric rating scale (NRS-11) and percent pain relief before and 1 year after surgery. Success was defined by at least 50% reduction in pain measured via NRS-11. To assess the degree of subjective satisfaction, a 10-point Likert scale was used. Clinical characteristics of headache and facial pain and surgical findings were studied. RESULTS: GON decompression was effective in all 7 patients with PHAW manifesting referred trigeminal pain, with a percent pain relief of 83.06 ± 17.30. The pain had disappeared in 3 of 7 patients (42.9%) within 6 months and no further treatment was needed. Patients' assessment of subjective improvement based on a 10-point Likert scale was 7.23 ± 1.25. It was effective in both occipital and facial pain. CONCLUSIONS: Although chronic GON entrapment itself is an individual constitutional issue, postwhiplash inflammatory changes seem to trigger chronic occipital headaches in GON distribution and unexplained referred trigeminal pain caused by sensitization of the trigeminocervical complex.
Subject(s)
Decompression, Surgical/methods , Facial Pain/surgery , Headache Disorders/surgery , Nerve Compression Syndromes/surgery , Trigeminal Nerve/surgery , Whiplash Injuries/surgery , Adult , Aged , Cohort Studies , Facial Pain/diagnostic imaging , Facial Pain/etiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Headache Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nerve Compression Syndromes/diagnostic imaging , Nerve Compression Syndromes/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Trigeminal Nerve/diagnostic imaging , Whiplash Injuries/complications , Whiplash Injuries/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The 2019 Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel respiratory virus which causes Coronavirus Disease19 (COVID-19). Although the predominant clinical picture of COVID-19 is represented by respiratory symptoms, neurological manifestations are being increasingly recognized. Headache, in particular migraine-like and tension types, has been largely reported in patients suffering from COVID-19 both in the acute and the healing phase of the infection. New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a primary headache characterized by persistent and daily painful symptoms, with pain becoming continuous and non-remitting within 24 h, and lasting more than 3 months. Even though an increasing number of reports describe patients who develop a persistent headache, diagnosis of NPDH has been rarely explored in the context of COVID-19. METHODS: Two patients with persistent headache and Sars-CoV-2 infection were identified. Both underwent a full clinical and neuroradiological evaluation. Blood sample with inflammatory biomarkers search was also performed. RESULTS: According to International Classifications of Headache Disorders diagnosis of probable new daily persistent headache was made. The treatment with high doses of steroids was associated with relief of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our report described two cases of probable NDPH due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical evaluation of COVID-19 patients presenting with persistent headache should take into consideration NDPH. Given the supposed major role for neuroinflammation in the genesis of Sars-CoV-2-driven NDPH, immunomodulatory therapy should be promptly started. In line with this hypothesis, we obtained a good therapeutic response to short-term high dose of corticosteroids.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Headache Disorders , Migraine Disorders , Headache/drug therapy , Headache/etiology , Headache Disorders/diagnosis , Headache Disorders/drug therapy , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The association between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and increased headache in adults has been well characterized. Childhood adversity and its effect on headache in children have not been as robustly investigated. This study examines the relationship of self-reported ACEs to frequent headache in an adolescent cohort. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health Wave I (n = 20,745) to examine self-reported ACE exposures and their relationship to frequent headache. RESULTS: The study population was composed of 20,745 participants; 50.6% male and 49.4% female. The mean age of respondents was 15.9 years (range 12 to 21 years, standard error: 0.12 years). Frequent headache was reported in 29.3% of respondents, and 45% of respondents reported one or more ACE exposures. For each increase in cumulative ACE score, odds of frequent headache increased by 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 1.30). The ACEs that individually showed an association with frequent headache after adjusting for demographic factors were lack of maternal warmth (odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.74, P = 0.002), lack of paternal warmth (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.81, P < 0.001), paternal alcoholism (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.40, P = 0.007), suicide attempt of family member (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.87, P < 0.001), and living in an unsafe neighborhood (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.39, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Several ACE exposures were associated with frequent headache in adolescents. An increase in cumulative ACE exposure increased the odds of having frequent headache.
Subject(s)
Adverse Childhood Experiences/statistics & numerical data , Headache Disorders/epidemiology , Headache Disorders/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Retrospective Studies , United States/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Hemicrania continua (HC) is a primary chronic headache disorder characterised with a broad range of autonomic symptoms. In this case report a 29-year-old patient was bothered by appearance of a unilateral sharp pain located behind the right eye at the same spot where the headache usually was located. He was diagnosed with HC and treated with indomethacin with good effect. However, due to discomfort and hanging eyelids he underwent bilateral blepharoplasty, and the headache and pain resolved completely.
Subject(s)
Headache Disorders , Indomethacin , Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Headache/drug therapy , Headache/etiology , Headache Disorders/drug therapy , Headache Disorders/etiology , Humans , Indomethacin/therapeutic use , MaleABSTRACT
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a secondary headache disorder due to leakage of cerebrospinal fluid without a history of dural trauma. If not diagnosed in time, patients may develop invalidating headaches or even life-threatening complications. SIH diagnosis can be challenging as the presentation of the disease may vary significantly. In this case report of a classic course of disease in a 62-year-old woman, we illustrate challenges according to the diagnosis emphasising the importance to consider SIH as a differential diagnosis in cases of orthostatic but also atypical chronic headache.