A patient with persistent headache

摘要

Patients with unresolved headache pain present a challenge for the primary care practitioner. These patients are frequently diagnosed with migraine, although typically only after several office evaluations and a range of diagnostic tests. Many symptoms of headache overlap and can make eliciting the correct diagnosis difficult. Unfortunately, the differential diagnoses that must be considered can be extensive, leading to expensive testing, unnecessary referrals, and a longer time until successful treatment. Paying close attention to the history can provide information that will lead to a more timely diagnosis and management.