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Differential Diagnosis for Chronic Headache Behind Both Eyes

  • Single Most Likely Diagnosis
    • Tension headache: This is the most common type of headache and can cause pain behind the eyes due to muscle tension in the face and neck.
  • Other Likely Diagnoses
    • Sinusitis: As mentioned, sinusitis can cause headaches behind the eyes due to inflammation and pressure in the sinuses.
    • Migraine: Migraines can cause pain on one or both sides of the head, including behind the eyes, and are often accompanied by other symptoms like sensitivity to light and sound.
    • Cluster headache: These are severe headaches that occur in cycles and can cause pain behind one eye, but can sometimes be felt behind both eyes.
  • Do Not Miss Diagnoses
    • Giant cell arteritis: This is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the head that can cause headaches, including behind the eyes, and can lead to blindness if not treated promptly.
    • Brain tumor: Although rare, a brain tumor can cause chronic headaches, including behind the eyes, due to increased pressure in the brain.
    • Temporal arteritis: Similar to giant cell arteritis, this condition can cause headaches behind the eyes and can lead to serious complications if not treated.
  • Rare Diagnoses
    • Occipital neuralgia: This is a condition that causes pain in the nerves that run from the neck to the back of the head, which can sometimes be felt behind the eyes.
    • Trigeminal neuralgia: This is a condition that causes sudden, severe pain in the face, including behind the eyes, due to a problem with the trigeminal nerve.
    • Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: This is a condition that causes increased pressure in the brain, which can lead to chronic headaches, including behind the eyes.

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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