Differential Diagnosis for Head Trauma with Headache and Nausea
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Concussion: This is the most common diagnosis for head trauma presenting with headache and nausea. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Subdural Hematoma: A collection of blood on the brain's surface beneath its outer covering, often due to severe head injuries. Symptoms can include headache and nausea.
- Epidural Hematoma: Similar to a subdural hematoma but located between the skull and the dura mater, the outermost membrane covering the brain. It's usually caused by a skull fracture that tears an artery.
- Cerebral Contusion: A bruise of the brain tissue, which can cause headache, nausea, and other neurological symptoms depending on the area of the brain affected.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the space between the brain and the tissue that covers it (the subarachnoid space). This condition can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include sudden, severe headache and nausea.
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Bleeding within the brain tissue itself, which can cause increased intracranial pressure and lead to severe neurological deficits or death if not promptly treated.
- Skull Fracture: A break in one or more of the bones that form the skull. Some skull fractures can be serious and may require immediate medical attention, especially if they are associated with other symptoms like headache and nausea.
Rare Diagnoses
- Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Rupture: A rare condition where there's an abnormal connection between arteries and veins in the brain, which can rupture and cause bleeding.
- Cerebral Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain, which can cause a variety of symptoms including headache and nausea, though it's much less common than other causes of head trauma symptoms.
- Meningitis: Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges. This can be caused by infection or other factors and presents with headache, fever, and stiff neck, among other symptoms.