Headache

1. What are some of the clinical characteristics (history and physical) of a headache that would suggest an interacranial mass, hemorrhage or meningitis as the etiology.

2. Describe the typical patient with temporal arteritis. Describe any frequent concomitant symptoms and/or disorders.

3. Describe the typical history and physical findings in a patient with a muscle contraction (tension) headache.

4. Describe the symptoms and physical findings of a patient with a headache for which a CT or MRI would be a reasonable diagnostic procedure.

5. List the criteria for the diagnosis of migraine. How does common migraine differ from classic migraine?

6. List the criteria for the diagnosis of cluster headache.

7. List the major classes of drugs that are used in migraine headaches. Which are used for analgesia? Which are used for abortive therapy? Which are used for prophylaxis?

8. Describe the various types of post-traumatic headaches.

9. Describe a management plan for recurrent "tension" headaches.

10. Understand the interaction between psychosocial stressors and headaches.

11. Discuss the difference between the headache of acute purulent sinusitis and the sinus headache that is seasonal. (History, physical, treatment)

Sources:

Family Medicine:  Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Chapter 34, Pages 205-213

Essentials of Family Medicine, Chapter 45, Pages 695-704

"AAFP/ACP-ASIM Release Guidelines on the Management and Prevention of Migraines" Barrett M. Schroeder, American Family Physician, March 15, 2003.

"Headaches in Children and Adolescents" Donald W. Lewis, M.D., Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, American Family Physician, February 15, 2002.

"Management of Cluster Headaches" Ellen Beck, M.D., William J. Sieber, Ph.D., and Raul Trejo, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, American Family Physician, February 15, 2002.

"Tension-Type Headache" Paul J. Millea, M.D., M.S., M.A., and Jonathan J. Brodie, M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, American Family Physician, September 1, 2002.