Differential Diagnosis for Scalp Pain
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Tension headache: This is the most common cause of scalp pain, often related to muscle tension and stress.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Migraine: A type of headache disorder that can cause pain on one side of the head, including the scalp.
- Scalp conditions (e.g., psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis): Inflammatory conditions that can cause itching, redness, and pain on the scalp.
- Hair loss conditions (e.g., alopecia areata, telogen effluvium): Conditions that can cause hair loss and associated scalp pain.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: A condition that affects the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull, causing pain in the scalp and face.
- 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 cause sudden and severe scalp pain.
- Meningitis: An infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can cause scalp pain, fever, and stiff neck.
- Giant cell arteritis: An inflammatory condition that affects the blood vessels, causing scalp pain, headache, and visual disturbances.
- Brain tumor: A rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can cause scalp pain, headache, and neurological symptoms.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, causing intense pain in the face and scalp.
- Occipital neuralgia: A condition that affects the occipital nerve, causing pain in the scalp and back of the head.
- Scalp cellulitis: A bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissues of the scalp, which can cause pain, redness, and swelling.
- Neurosarcoidosis: A rare condition caused by inflammation of the nervous system, which can cause scalp pain, headache, and neurological symptoms.