Headache With Signs of Serious Illness
When a headache, vomiting, fever, or a seizure occurs along with another serious illness, immediate medical care is needed. Signs of serious illness include:
- Confusion or extreme irritability.
- Extreme sleepiness.
- New and different skin rash or severe bruises that appear without an injury.
- New double vision, blurred vision, or blind spots.
- Persistent nausea or vomiting.
- Rapid, difficult breathing.
- Severe neck stiffness or pain.
- Severe sensitivity to light (photophobia).
- Severe pain.
- Unsteadiness that prevents standing or walking (ataxia or vertigo).
Although uncommon, a headache with signs of a serious illness may be a sign of:
Understanding Headache -- the Basics
Although painful and troublesome, most headaches are minor and can be easily treated with aspirin or another pain reliever. But if they are severe, recur frequently, or are accompanied by other symptoms, you may need to take additional steps -- and the first step is to see a doctor. Headaches are categorized according to their underlying causes. Tension (muscle-contraction) headaches make up one common group. A second common category includes migraine and cluster headaches. A third group consists...
Read the Understanding Headache -- the Basics article > >
- An infection in or around the brain, such as encephalitis, meningitis, or a brain abscess.
- A momentary blockage of a blood vessel (transient ischemic attack, or TIA) in the brain.
- Rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.
Call your doctor for an evaluation if you have a headache and other signs of a serious illness.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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