Differential Diagnosis for Headache
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Tension headache: This is the most common type of headache and is often characterized by a band-like pressure around the forehead, neck, and shoulders. It is usually mild to moderate in severity and can be triggered by stress, poor posture, or muscle tension.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Migraine headache: A migraine is a type of headache that is often severe and can be accompanied by sensitivity to light, sound, or smells, as well as nausea and vomiting. It can be triggered by hormonal changes, certain foods, or stress.
- Sinus headache: A sinus headache is caused by inflammation or infection of the sinuses and can be accompanied by facial pain, nasal congestion, and fever.
- Cluster headache: A cluster headache is a rare but severe type of headache that occurs in cycles or clusters, often waking the patient from sleep. It is usually accompanied by nasal congestion, eye watering, and facial sweating.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a life-threatening condition caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. It can cause a sudden, severe headache, often described as "the worst headache of my life."
- Meningitis: Meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can cause a severe headache, fever, stiff neck, and confusion.
- Temporal arteritis: Temporal arteritis is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the temples. It can cause a severe headache, jaw pain, and visual disturbances, and can lead to blindness if left untreated.
- Brain tumor: A brain tumor can cause a headache, often accompanied by seizures, confusion, and focal neurological deficits.
- Rare diagnoses
- Trigeminal neuralgia: Trigeminal neuralgia is a rare condition that causes sudden, severe facial pain, often triggered by light touch or eating.
- Occipital neuralgia: Occipital neuralgia is a rare condition that causes a severe headache, often accompanied by neck pain and scalp tenderness.
- Hypnic headache: A hypnic headache is a rare type of headache that occurs only at night, often waking the patient from sleep.
- Thunderclap headache: A thunderclap headache is a rare type of headache that is extremely severe and reaches its maximum intensity within a minute. It can be a sign of a subarachnoid hemorrhage or other life-threatening condition.