Headache caused by a disease of the inside of the skull (bleeding, tumours, infections or internal fluid accumulation). It is a rare but potentially more serious cause of cephalea. It is slightly more common at around the age of 40 years old.
It is characterised for a persistent headache. It can go alongside nausea, vomits, photophobia, neurological symptoms and, abdominal pain with diarrhoea.
Apart from a medical questioning and a complete clinical examination, cerebral imaging tests will also be carried out.
The triggering cause must be treated and the pain relieved with the usage of strong analgesics.
It is considered a medical emergency. Check with a hospital with an available CT-scan unit, particularly if there is a low level of consciousness, convulsions, a headache that does not subside with analgesics, or if there is a severe mobility impairment.
- Zahid H Bajwa, R Joshua Wootton. Evaluation of headache in adults. UpToDate. Jan 22, 2016.
- Christine L Lay, Christina Sun-Edelstein. Brain tumor headache. UpToDate. Nov 30, 2015.
- Urbano-Márquez A. Estruch R. Neurología. Generalidades. Cefalalgias. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 12º edición: 1319-1320.
- Goadsby PJ. Raskin NH. Migraña y otras cefaleas primarias. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19º Edición: 2586-2598.
- Goadsby PJ, Raskin NH. Cefaleas. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 1. 19º Edición: 107-111.
