Acute Headache

Excerpt

Headache, or pain in any part of the head, is a nearly universal ailment. Headaches comprise 3% of emergency department chief complaints. While most headaches are benign (96%), recognizing less common, emergent causes of headaches is critical, as a timely intervention may be life-saving. The primary role of the emergency provider (EP) is to carefully analyze specific aspects of the history and physical exam to determine which patients are at risk for serious underlying pathology. The emergency provider must decide which patients require immediate further testing, such as laboratory studies and imaging, to confirm the diagnosis and direct management. In addition to diagnosing and managing life-threatening causes of headaches, the EP must be well versed in treating common primary headache disorders, as proper management of the natural course of the disease may improve patient outcomes.