Table 8.
Causes of headache by temporal pattern.
| Acute headache | Acute recurrent headache |
|---|---|
| Upper respiratory tract infection, with or without fever Acute sinusitis Pharyngitis Meningitis (viral or bacterial) Migraine (first attack) Post-ictal headache Hypertension Substance abuse (e.g., cocaine) Medication (e.g., methylphenidate, oral contraceptives, steroids) Intoxicants (e.g., lead, carbon monoxide) Ventriculoperitioneal shunt malfunction Brain tumor Hydrocephalus Subarachnoid hemorrhage Intracranial hemorrhage Venous sinus thrombosis |
Migraine Tension-type headache Cluster headache Seizures Hypertension Hyperthyroidism Pheochromocytoma Medication-induced headache MELAS |
| Chronic progressive headache | Chronic non-progressive headache |
| Brain tumor Hydrocephalus (obstructive or communicating) Pseudotumor cerebri Brain abscess Hematoma (chronic subdural hematoma) Aneurysm and vascular malformations Medications (e.g., birth control pills, tetracycline, vitamin A) Intoxication (lead poisoning) |
Chronic migraine Chronic tension-type headaches(analgesic overuse) Post-concussive syndrome Temporomandibular joint syndrome Cluster headache |