Abstract
Headache is one of the most common health complaints in children and adolescents. The initial assessment of acute headache aims to recognize whether there is a secondary cause for headache. According to the literature, the secondary headaches due to non-life-threatening diseases are the most frequent ones in pediatrics. In particular, respiratory tract infections and minor head trauma represent the majority. In a small minority of patients, headache is secondary to serious life-threatening intracranial disorders. Meningitis is the most common cause of headache due to serious neurological condition. These patients do not constitute a diagnostic problem, as they usually have clear systemic and neurological signs of intracranial hypertension. Recent onset of headache attacks, occipital location of pain, patient's inability to describe headache characteristics seem frequently recur, together with neurological signs, in intracranial lifethreatening conditions.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Neurological Sciences |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | SUPPL.1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2010 |
Keywords
- Childhood
- Secondary headache
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Dermatology
- Medicine(all)