title: [Guidelines for the diagnostic evaluation of patients presenting in emergency for an acute non-traumatic headache].
abstract: Acute non-traumatic headache is a frequent complaint in emergency primary care. In the majority of cases, the cause is a primary headache, which can be invalidating, but should not lead to additional investigations. Secondary headaches are rare but their diagnosis is essential to avoid potentially lethal consequences. In practice, a primary headache may be difficult to differentiate from a secondary headache, especially if the initial management does not follow a systematic approach. We have adapted evidence-based guidelines to improve the diagnostic management of patients presenting acute headache. We propose an algorithm that facilitates the systematic screening of alert signs with a focused patient history and clinical exam. In the presence of red flags, appropriate complementary exams are needed to rule out a secondary headache.
authors.affiliation: Centre interdisciplinaire des urgences, CHUV, Lausanne. mirco.ceppi@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceppi
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willi
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hugli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Regli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cereda
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maeder
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodenmann
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burnand
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nater
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000465:Algorithms; D004630:Emergencies; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic