Differential Diagnosis for Severe Throbbing Headache with Pain Behind One Eye in a Kid
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Migraine: This is a common condition in children that can cause severe, throbbing headaches, often accompanied by pain behind one eye. Migraines can be triggered by various factors, including stress, certain foods, and hormonal changes.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Cluster headache: Although less common in children, cluster headaches can cause severe, one-sided pain, often behind one eye. They tend to occur in clusters or cycles.
- Sinusitis: Infections or inflammation of the sinuses can cause headaches, including pain behind one eye, especially if the affected sinus is near the eye.
- Tension headache: While typically less severe, tension headaches can cause pain on one side of the head, including behind the eye, especially if the child is under stress or has poor posture.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage: A life-threatening condition caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain, which can present with a sudden, severe headache, often described as "the worst headache" ever experienced.
- Meningitis: Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can cause severe headache, fever, and stiff neck. It's crucial to diagnose and treat meningitis promptly to prevent serious complications.
- Orbital cellulitis: An infection of the tissues surrounding the eye, which can cause pain behind the eye, swelling, and fever. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including vision loss.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Temporal arteritis: An inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, which can cause headaches, including pain behind one eye. It's more common in older adults but can occur in children.
- Pseudotumor cerebri: A condition characterized by increased pressure within the skull, which can cause headaches, including pain behind one eye, as well as vision changes.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A condition that affects the nerve responsible for sensation in the face, which can cause severe, stabbing pain, including behind one eye. It's relatively rare in children.