DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF SECONDARY HEADACHES

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Pseudotumor cerebri

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Temporal arteritis (Giant cell arteritis)

Meningitis

Cerebral/ cerebellar lesions

     Brain tumors

     Brain abscess

     Cerebral edema

     Increased intracranial pressure

     Arteriovenous malformations/ aneurysms

     Cerebral vascular accident

          Ischemic

          Hemorrhagic

     Neurocystercircosis

     Coccidioidomycosis Mengingitis 

     Arnold-Chiari malformation

Partial seizures

Pheochromocytoma

Temperomandibular joint disorder

Cervical strain

Varicella-zoster (Shingles)

Sinusitis

Sleep apnea

Eagle’s syndrome (results from an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament)

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia

Superior laryngeal neuralgia

Gradenigo’s syndrome (retro-orbital pain, suppurative otitis, abducens palsy, and diplopia)

Posttraumatic neuralgia

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (retro-orbital pain and ophthalmoplegia)

Trigeminal neuralgia

Chronic carbon monoxide exposure

SEVERE HEADACHE WITH SUDDEN ONSET

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Meningitis

Encephalitis

Ischemic stroke

Increased intracranial pressure with tonsilar herniation

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Carotid or vertebral artery dissection

Intraparenchymal or subdural hemorrhage

Hypertensive crisis

Temporal arteritis

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Optic neuritis