other head injuries:)

Question 1

What is a tension headache?

Answer 1

• Muscle contractions of the face, neck and scalp
• Feels like a tight band around the head
• Most common type of headache
• Result of stress, persistent noise, poor posture, eyestrain
• Usually treated with analgesics

Question 2

What is a migraine?

Answer 2

*Severe, incapacitating headaches
*Preceded by visual or GI disturbances
*Onset of an intense throbbing pain unilaterally → may spread
*Last 2-72 hours
*Often accompanied by nausea and vomiting
*Constriction and dilatation of blood vessels
*May have sensitivity to light, sound or smell

Question 3

What is a cluster headache?

Answer 3

• occurs in bursts, often short lasting repeat for days/months
• tearing and nasal congestion
• severe pain around one eye
• 30mins-2hrs duration

Question 4

Tx of cluster headaches include….

Answer 4

antihistamine
cortico-steroids
calcium channel blockers
analgesics

Question 5

What are the causes of cluster headaches?

Answer 5

Often caused by abnormities in bodies biological clock (hypothalamus)

*Also known as Histamine headaches – release of histamine with fluid accumulation, dilated carotid arteries

Question 6

What are sinus headaches?

Answer 6

pain in sinus area- forehead, nasal area and eyes

pressure behind the face, from fluid build up in the sinuses, inflammation or infection of the membranes

Question 7

What causes sinus headaches?

Answer 7

fluid build up in the sinuses!
inflammation or infection of the membranes

Question 8

Tx of sinus headaches: ( three A medications)

Answer 8

analgesics, antihistamines, antibiotics

Question 9

What is brain abscess?

Answer 9

*Purulent material (pus) surrounded by a capsule
*Develops from bacterial infection from the nasal cavity, middle ear, mastoid cells
*Also from surgery or penetrating trauma
*Infection → fever
*Expanding mass → nausea, vomiting, seizures, alterations in LOC, headaches

Question 10

What is MENINGITIS?

Answer 10

infection usually bacterial in the meninges of the brain!
—–> can be secondary to other infections

Question 11

S/S of meningitis:

Answer 11

*Severe headache
*Back pain
*Nuchal rigidity (hyperextended, stiff neck)
*Vomiting
*Irritability and lethargy
*Fever and chills
*Rash

Question 12

What is kernig’s sign?

Answer 12

resistance to leg extension when hip if flex 90 degrees

Question 13

What is brudzinski’s sign?

Answer 13

passive flexion of neck causes flexion of both legs/thighs