Assessment of acute headache in adults

Headache is pain localised to any part of the head, behind the eyes or ears, or in the upper neck. Headaches represent 2% of all emergency department visits. About 90% of men and 95% of women have at least one headache per year. Diagnostic clues should be derived primarily from history. Hallmark physical signs are often absent, and many physical findings are non-specific. The majority of patients presenting with acute headache have a benign diagnosis, but a high index of suspicion should be maintained for life-threatening causes of headache.[1]Ramirez-Lassepas M, Espinosa CE, Cicero JJ, et al. Predictors of intracranial pathologic findings in patients who seek emergency care because of headache. Arch Neurol. 1997 Dec;54(12):1506-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9400360?tool=bestpractice.com