Acute Headache

Acute Headache accounts for about 3% of acute medical unit admissions and up to 8% of Emergency Room attendances. What follows is an approach to this problem based on the characteristics of the presenting headache type. For each type of acute headache there is a fairly well defined differential diagnosis. If you appreciate the clinical features that are associated with different headache disorders, then you are more likely to identify the correct cause and manage your patient effectively. You should also appreciate that nonneurological disorders, such as carbon monoxide poisoning can present with acute headache.