Nontraumatic headaches in the Emergency Department: a systematic approach to diagnosis and controversies in two "big ticket" entities.
Headache is a very common presenting complaint in the Emergency Department (ED). While the vast majority of these have benign or self-limited etiologies, there are several life or organ threatening causes that must be excluded. This paper describes a systematic approach to the history and physical examination in these patients. Evidence-based recommendations for which patients should receive imaging in the ED are reviewed. Current diagnostic approaches and controversies in meningitis and subarachnoid hemorrhage are discussed.
Go
Steven
S
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, USA. gos@umkc.edu
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010808:Physical Examination; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*