HEADACHE-CLUSTER HEADACHE

SUMMARY

1. Cluster headaches can occur up to several times/day for a few weeks before remitting.

2. These become chronic in 10% of patients, more common in men (5:1), tend to occur in the 20-50 year age group, 70% of patients find that alcohol triggers their headache.

3. The pain is unilateral, severe (described as an "ice-pick" or "hot poker"), and perior retro-orbital.

4. It peaks quickly in 5-10 minutes and resolves in an hour or two.

5. Another characteristic feature is nightly recurrence (called the "alarm clock headache"), about 1 to 2 hours after the onset of sleep or several times during the night.

6. The cluster headache recurs regularly each night for 6-12 weeks, followed by complete freedom for many months or even years.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].