Differential Diagnosis for Headache in Right
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Tension headache: This is the most common type of headache and can occur on one side of the head, including the right side. It is often described as a band or a squeezing sensation around the forehead, back of the neck, or both.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Migraine: Migraines can be unilateral, affecting one side of the head, and are often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Cluster headache: These are severe headaches that occur in cycles or clusters, often on one side of the head, and can be accompanied by nasal congestion and eye watering on the same side.
- Sinus headache: Inflammation or infection of the sinuses can cause pain on one side of the head, depending on which sinus is affected.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- 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" of the patient's life.
- Temporal arteritis: Inflammation of the arteries in the temple, which can cause severe headache on one side, jaw claudication, and visual disturbances. If not treated promptly, it can lead to blindness.
- Brain tumor: Although rare, a tumor in the brain can cause headaches that are worse in the morning and can be accompanied by other neurological symptoms such as seizures, confusion, and weakness.
- Rare diagnoses
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which can cause intense shock-like or stabbing pain in parts of the face, including the area on the right side of the head.
- Occipital neuralgia: Inflammation of the occipital nerves, which can cause pain in the back and side of the head, often on one side.
- Hypnic headache: A rare type of headache that occurs only during sleep and can wake the patient, often occurring on one side of the head.