Headache
With what is happening around us today, undoubtedly many are experiencing headache.
But , what really is a headache? This is the most frequent painful state humans suffer. It occurs in any age including newborns. This encompasses all conditions wherein pain is perceived in the head, but in the usual sense its application is restricted to pain or discomfort in the region of the cranial vault.
Headache is generally benign in the older child or adolescent; however, it may reflect a more serious disease in the younger child or infant.
In younger infants, headache is manifested by irritability, incessant crying, frowning and restlessness.
If a patient comes to the clinic for headache, a thorough history is done and this is the most important element in making the diagnosis.
The physical examination will likewise help in the diagnosis. In some cases, neuro-imaging is requested to confirm the findings.
In assessing the headache, the physician will take into consideration the following factors:
– severity of pain
– character of pain
– location of pain
– radiation of the pain
– circumstances at onset
– duration of the pain
– frequency
– factors that relieve or aggravate the pain
– and other associated symptoms.
Our Textbook of Pediatrics by Dr. Fe del Mundo mentioned that the principal varieties of headache are the following:1. Migraine headache
2. Tension headache
3. Post traumatic nervous instability headache
4. Headache of brain tumors