thunderclap headache


thunderclap headache

sudden severe nonlocalizing head pain not associated with any abnormal neurologic findings; of varied etiology, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, migraine, carotid or vertebral artery dissection, cavernous sinus thrombosis, and idiopathic causes.
A distinct severe headache that occurs days to weeks before the index episode of intracranial bleeding, often from a subarachnoid haemorrhage—seen in 20% to 50% of patients; it develops within seconds, 'maxes' in minutes, and lasts for hours to days; the headache may be accompanied by nuchal rigidity, decreased consciousness, papilloedema, retinal haemorrhage, 3rd and/or 6th nerve palsy, bilateral leg weakness, nystagmus, ataxia, aphasia, abulia, hemiparesis, left-sided visual neglect
DiffDx Acute expansion, dissection, or thrombosis of unruptured aneurysm, venous sinus thrombosis, sexual headaches, benign thunderclap headache

thun·der·clap head·ache

(thŭn'dĕr-klap hed'āk) Sudden severe nonlocalizing head pain not associated with any abnormal neurologic findings; of varied etiology, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, migraine, carotid or vertebral artery dissection, and cavernous sinus thrombosis.

thunderclap headache

A very severe headache that occurs suddenly and without warning. Such headaches may signify several dangerous possibilities including subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, subdural or epidural haematoma, acute ischaemic stroke, dissection of a vertebral or carotid artery, pituitary apoplexy or a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. More commonly, the thunderclap headache implies nothing more grave than a migraine or a benign sexual headache.

thun·der·clap head·ache

(thŭn'dĕr-klap hed'āk) Sudden severe nonlocalizing head pain not associated with any abnormal neurologic findings; of varied etiology.