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Question 1

As a prehospital provider, what would you assess for a patient with “headache” as a chief

complaint?

When encountering a patient with the chief complaint of headache as a prehospital/ emergency

care provider, the assessment is done as follows:

Assessing whether it is Primary headaches or secondary headache:

Primary headaches mean the headache is chief complaint and exists on its own. They are more

frequently encountered and comprise the following types:

• Migraines

• Tension headaches

• Cluster headaches

Secondary headaches are caused by another disease and are therefore secondary to that primary

disease. They are in fact a symptom of that disease or condition for examples infections or

cancers/tumors.

What to assess in a patient with the chief complaint of Headache

When evaluating patients with headaches, the history should be taken to know the

• Nature of the pain (location, severity, character, and onset)

• Associated symptoms

• Aggravating and relieving factors.

• Past medical history (including history of head trauma, medications)

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• Family history to identify risk factors for serious disease.

• A history of prior headaches and

• Any previous diagnostic studies.

Warning clues pointing towards a potentially dangerous cause include:

• Sudden onset of headache

• Headache being described as the "worst headache of life,"

• Headaches dramatically different from past episodes,

• Headaches in immunocompromised people,

• New onset after age 50 years

• Onset with exertion

Physical Examination:

• Complete general physical examination

• Comprehensive neurological examination

• Warning signs for a severe/ominous causes of headache includes

- altered mental status

- meningeal signs

- focal neurological deficits

- rash suspicious for meningococcemia

Vital sings

• Abnormal vital signs can be a harbinger of life-threatening conditions.

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Question 1 As a prehospital provider, what would you assess for a patient with “headache” as a chief complaint? When encountering a patient with the chief complaint of headache as a prehospital/ emergency care provider, the assessment is done as follows: Assessing whether it is Primary headaches or secondary headache: Primary headaches mean the headache is chief complaint and exists on its own. They are more frequently encountered and comprise the following types: • Migraines • Tension headaches • Cluster headaches Secondary headaches are caused by another disease and are therefore secondary to that primary disease. They are in fact a symptom of that disease or condition for examples infections or cancers/tumors. What to assess in a patient with the chief complaint of Headache When evaluating patients with headaches, the history should be taken to know the • Nature of the pain (location, severity, character, and onset) • Associated symptoms • Aggravating and relieving factors. • Past medical history (including history of head trauma, medications) • Family history to identify risk factors for serious disease. • A history of prior headaches an ...
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