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Chapter 2 - Headache

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2014

Todd Crocco
Affiliation:
West Virginia University
Michael Sayre
Affiliation:
University of Washington
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Summary

Evaluation of the headache patient begins with the historical exam. Physical findings of concern associated with the headache include: unequal weakness; generalized malaise and inability to ambulate; fevers; neck stiffness; and unequal pupils. Primary causes for the headache include tension headache, migraine, cluster and caffeine withdrawal, and the secondary causes include infection, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), eye complaints, and tumors. Secondary headache is tending to improve as underlying cause of the headache is treated. This chapter presents a review of the common treatment options for the management of headache in the EMS environment. These include inhaled oxygen, anti-emetics, opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and analgesics. EMS providers must have a heightened level of concern for the causes of headache requiring emergent treatment. The area of headache evaluation and management in the EMS environment needs further study.
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2014

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