Differential Diagnosis for Headache and Fatigue
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Tension Headache: This is the most common type of headache and is often associated with fatigue, stress, and muscle tension. The duration of 5 days is consistent with a prolonged tension headache.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Migraine: Although typically more severe and often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, migraines can present with fatigue and may last for several days.
- Viral Infection: Such as a common cold or flu, which can cause headache and fatigue due to the body's immune response.
- Dehydration: Inadequate fluid intake can lead to headaches and fatigue, and this condition is relatively common and easily treatable.
- Sleep Disorder: Issues like insomnia or sleep apnea can cause both headache and fatigue due to poor sleep quality.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Although less likely, this condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. It typically presents with a sudden, severe headache but can have a more gradual onset in some cases.
- Meningitis: Infection of the meninges can cause headache, fatigue, fever, and stiff neck. It's crucial to identify and treat promptly to prevent serious complications.
- Temporal Arteritis: This condition, more common in older adults, involves inflammation of the blood vessels and can cause headache, fatigue, and visual disturbances. If untreated, it can lead to blindness.
- Brain Tumor: Although rare, a brain tumor can cause headache and fatigue among other symptoms, and early detection is critical for treatment.
Rare Diagnoses
- Chronic Daily Headache: A condition characterized by headaches that occur 15 days or more per month, which could be a consideration if the headache persists beyond the initial 5 days.
- Hypothyroidism: Fatigue and headache can be symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland, though this would typically be accompanied by other signs such as weight gain and cold intolerance.
- Anemia: Low red blood cell count or hemoglobin can cause fatigue and sometimes headache, usually accompanied by other symptoms like pale skin and shortness of breath.
- Lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including headache and fatigue, but is relatively rare and typically involves other systemic symptoms.