Headache, Diagnostic Criteria & Pharmacological Treatment

Posted by admin March 23, 2023

Headache, Diagnostic Criteria & Pharmacological Treatment;- Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The main symptom of a headache is a pain in your head or face. This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headaches can be treated with medication, stress management and biofeedback.

Headache, Diagnostic Criteria & Pharmacological Treatment

Headache

Headache
Headache

Acute Headache

Diagnostic Criteria

      • Secondaryto fever and infectious diseases
      • Secondaryto local inflammatory cause

For further actions refer to fever, eye, ear and oral sections.

Pharmacological Treatment

  • A: Paracetamol (PO) 1g every 8 hours for at least 3 days

OR

  • A: Ibuprofen (PO) 400mg 8 hourly for at least 3 days

Children

  • A: Paracetamol 15 mg/kg/dose 6 hourly when required to a maximum of 4 doses per 24 hours

If there is no relief to paracetamol give:

  • A: Ibuprofen (PO) 5–10mg/kg/dose 8 hourly

Note:Ibuprofen shall be given with food.

Chronic Headache

Diagnostic criteria

    • Migraine
    • Clusterheadache
    • Tensionheadache

Pharmacological Treatment:

Migraine

In acute attack give analgesics:

  • A: Paracetamol (PO) 1g immediately then every 4 hours; maximum dose of 4g per day

OR

  • A: Acetylsalicylic acid 600mg 6 hourly.

AND

  • C: Metoclopramide (PO) 10mg 8 hourly.

OR

  • C: Metoclopramide IV 10mg 8 hourly

In severe attack give:

  • C: Ergotamine tartrate 2mg sublingual, 12 hourly. Not to be repeated at intervals less than 4 days.

For prevention purposes give:

  • A: Propranolol (PO) 40–80mg 12 hourly

OR

  • A: Amitriptyline (PO) 10–50mg at night

Reference