Headache as an Emergency in Children and Adolescents

• Published in: Current pain and headache reports Vol. 19; no. 3; p. 3
• Main Authors: Papetti, Laura, Capuano, Alessandro, Tarantino, Samuela, Vigevano, Federico, Valeriani, Massimiliano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.03.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Child; Childhood and Adolescent Headache (S Evers; Diagnosis, Differential; Emergency Service, Hospital; Headache Disorders, Primary - diagnosis; Headache Disorders, Primary - etiology; Headache Disorders, Primary - physiopathology; Headache Disorders, Primary - therapy; Headache Disorders, Secondary - diagnosis; Headache Disorders, Secondary - etiology; Headache Disorders, Secondary - physiopathology; Headache Disorders, Secondary - therapy; Headaches; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurologic Examination - methods; Pain Medicine; Physical Examination - methods; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Section Editor; Topical Collection on Childhood and Adolescent Headache; Headache; Pediatrics; Primary headache; Secondary headache
• ISSN: 1531-3433; 1534-3081
• DOI: 10.1007/s11916-015-0480-5

Pediatric and adolescence headache is one of the most common causes of access in emergency departments (ED). Primary headache and headache secondary to self-limited conditions are the majority of cases. Secondary life-threatening headaches are less frequent and may be recognized by a careful history and physical examination. The primary objective for ED physicians is to recognize the serious life-threatening conditions requiring immediate medical care among the wide spectrum of headache diagnoses.