Headache : Medical Triage : Online Medical Help

Medical Triage : Online Medical Help 

Headache

Objective

Patients with significant intracranial events are often hypertensive, sometimes with bradycardia (Cushing's reflex).

Note any fever present.                                                                                             

The patient may be restless, drowsy or irritable.

He may have neck stiffness.

There may be signs of injury to the head.

Look for unequal pupils or signs of new stroke.

Headache

Assessment 

Critical

Severe headache, especially if sudden onset or occipital                                          

Restless, drowsy or irritable patient

Patient with photophobia or neck stiffness

Patients with unequal pupils or signs of new stroke

Severe giddiness associated with nausea or vomitting

Hypertension with or without bradycardia.

A wet towel to the head sometimes give relief.                                                                     

Headache

Semi-critical

Patients without the above but in distress

Non-critical

Patients without the above and not in distress

Mild headache of more than a month not suddenly worsening.