Diagnosis and treatment of headache in primary practice: a brief review.
10.5124/jkma.2010.53.9.807
- Author:
Yong Jae KIM
1
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. brain930@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Headache;
Migraine;
Diagnosis;
History
- MeSH:
Diagnostic Tests, Routine;
Headache;
Humans;
Migraine Disorders;
Tension-Type Headache
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2010;53(9):807-814
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Headache is a common symptom, often associated with disability, but rarely life threatening. However, even disabling migraine is under-diagnosed and under-treated. There are no diagnostic tests for migraine or tension-type headaches, and the history is all-important. A headache history requires time to elicit and a simple and helpful stratagem when the patient first presents in a clinic is to request the keeping of a diary over a few weeks. The pattern of attacks is a very helpful indicator of the right diagnosis. It must be ascertained first that a condition requiring more urgent intervention is not present. In this brief review, the crucial elements of a headache history are presented in detail, and key principles of treatment are described.
