Classification and Diagnosis of Primary Headache Disorders

Abstract

Proper diagnosis is the key to successful management of headache disorders. Separating secondary causes from primary headache disorders is a necessary first step, followed by further refinement within these broader categories. For research into the physiological and pathophysiological underpinnings of headache disorders, distinguishing headache types and subtypes is even more crucial. Thus, classification of headache types is required in clinical work and research in headache medicine. This article will provide an overview of the guiding philosophy behind the International Classification of Headache Disorders, a guide to its use in diagnosing primary headache disorders, and a review of important diagnostic features of the primary headaches.

Toxina botulínica como modalidade terapêutica na cefaleia

“…Para abordar de forma profunda esse tópico, é fundamental destacar a variedade de medicamentos disponíveis para o alívio das dores de cabeça. Isso inclui antieméticos, que ajudam a controlar náuseas e vômitos frequentemente associados a crises de enxaqueca; analgésicos comuns, que aliviam a dor; anti-inflamatórios não hormonais, que reduzem a inflamação em cefaleias de origem inflamatória; corticoides, que podem ser usados em casos de cefaleia associada a inflamação ou edema cerebral; ergotamínicos, que atuam na constrição dos vasos sanguíneos cerebrais; triptanos, medicamentos específicos para enxaqueca; neurolépticos, que ajudam a controlar as crises de dor; e opiáceos, que são reservados para casos de cefaleia extrema e resistente a outros tratamentos (Levin, 2022).…”

Tai Chi for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine: protocol of a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial with mechanism exploration

“…The inclusion criteria are: (1) Chinese woman aged 18–65 years. (2) Have a clinical diagnosis of episodic migraine with or without aura according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition version (ICHD-III) [ 21 ]. (3) Experienced migraines with a frequency of three to ten attacks a month.…”

“…The migraine diary is used to record the frequency, intensity, duration, and medications used for migraine attacks. A neurological physician in research team will make migraine diagnosis according to ICHD-III criteria [ 21 ] and appraise eligibility of each potential participant based on records from migraine diaries. Those who have between three and ten migraine attacks within four weeks and meet all other eligible criteria will be involved as final participants.…”

A state-of-the-art review of functional magnetic resonance imaging technique integrated with advanced statistical modeling and machine learning for primary headache diagnosis

“…Primary headaches currently lack clear radiological and physiological biomarkers, so their diagnostic criteria are still based on symptomatology ( Levin, 2022 ). However, clinical features are often similar among different categories and complex situations, such as varying severity levels or comorbidities, may make it challenging to distinguish diagnoses based solely on these features.…”