Other primary headaches

Introduction

Headaches may have a known cause or be idiopathic. They are common occurrences. Headaches are usually associated with a specific cause. Examples of such causal factors are "specific, stress, muscle tension tension, hormonal fluctuations, nerve compression or cervical spine or temporomandibular joint dysfunction . Frequent headaches which are idiopathic are noteworthy. This is due to the fact that headaches may be as a result of a serious medical condition and for this reason they ought to be assessed carefully. Primary headaches are headaches which are due to a headache condition itself as opposed to a secondary headache which is as a result of another condition which the individual has, Part one of the International Classification of Headache Disorders speaks of primary headaches. The primary headaches are migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalgias and what are categorized as other primary headaches

Description

Other primary headaches includes those that are clinically heterogeneous. The pathogenesis of these types of headache is still poorly understood, and their treatment is suggested on the basis of anecdotal reports or uncontrolled trials.

Several headache disorders included here can be symptomatic and need careful evaluation by imaging and/or other appropriate tests.

The onset of some of these headaches can be acute and affected patients are usually assessed in Emergency Departments. Appropriate and full investigation (neuroimaging, in particular) is mandatory in these cases.

Headaches classified as other primary headaches

Adapted from The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition

1. Primary cough headache
2. Probable primary cough headache
3. Primary exercise headache
4. Probable primary exercise headache
5. Primary headache associated with sexual activity
6. Probable primary headache associated with sexual activity
7. Primary thunderclap headache
8. Cold-stimulus headache
9. Headache attributed to external application of a cold stimulus
10. Headache attributed to ingestion or inhalation of a cold stimulus
11. Probable cold-stimulus headache
12. Headache probably attributed to external application of a cold stimulus
13. Headache probably attributed to ingestion or inhalation of a cold stimulus
14. External-pressure headache
15. External-compression headache
16. External-traction headache
17. Probable external-pressure headache
18. Probable external-compression headache
19. Probable external-traction headache
20. Primary stabbing headache
21. Probable primary stabbing headache
22. Nummular headache
23. Probable nummular headache
24. Hypnic headache
25. Probable hypnic headache
26. New daily persistent headache (NDPH)
27. Probable new daily persistent headache

1. Primary Stabbing Headache
   
2. Primary Cough Headache
3. Primary Exertional Headache
4. Primary Headache Associated with Sexual Activity
5. Hypnic Headache
6. Primary Thunderclap Headache
7. Hemicrania Continua
8. New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH)

A primary stabbing headache is one

Resources

1. International Headache Classification (ICHD-II)