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Headache Red Flag
- Interpretation: Red Flags imply serious cause
- See Organic Headache
- See Acute Generalized Headache
- Signs and Symptoms: Headache, Severe and incapacitating
- No prior history or Family History of Headaches
- Especially Headache onset after age 40-50 years
- Change in Headache pattern
- Progressive in frequency or severity
- Headache awakens patient from sleep
- Occipital or frontal focal Headache
- Provocative factors
- Exertion
- Cough or other Valsalva maneuvers
- Sex
- Signs and Symptoms: Associated
- Vomiting, Persistent and Progressive
- Persistent Constitutional or Meningeal Symptoms
- Fever
- Stiff neck
- Chronic malaise, myalgias or arthralgias
- Focal neurologic signs
- Progressive visual disturbance
- Weakness, clumsiness, or loss of balance
- Papilledema
- Photophobia or Phonophobia
- Seizure history
- Headache occurring after Head Trauma
- Mnemonic: SNOOP
- Systemic symptoms or illness
- Fever
- Altered Level of Consciousness
- Anticoagulation
- Pregnancy
- Cancer
- Neurologic symptoms or signs
- Papilledema
- Asymmetric Cranial Nerve function
- Asymmetric motor function
- Abnormal Cerebellar Function
- Onset recently or suddenly
- Onset after age 40 years
- Prior Headache History that is different or progressive
- References
- Dodick (2003) Adv Stud Med S550-5
- References
- Coutin (1996) Am Fam Physician 54(7):2247
- Diamond (1997) Postgrad Med 101(1):169
- Dodlick (1997) Postgrad Med 101(5):46
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