Migraines & Headaches Health Center

Do you have a severe stiff neck?

Do you have a fever of or higher?

Do you think you have a moderate fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had any symptoms of loss of function, but all symptoms are now gone?

Have you had a history of headaches and new symptoms of loss of function have come on slowly?

Are you having trouble standing, walking, or changing position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you having trouble staying awake?

Is your headache so severe that you are having trouble standing, walking, or changing position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had a temporary change in your vision but your normal vision has returned?

Do you have severe sensitivity to light (photophobia)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your child have a headache with other symptoms of a serious illness?

Does your child have severe headache pain?

Are you unable to relieve your child's moderate headache with home treatment?

Has your child's headache caused mild pain without other symptoms for 24 hours or longer?

Has your child's headache gradually gotten worse during the past 24 hours?

Does your child have recurrent headaches that have not gotten better for 24 hours or longer after being checked by a doctor?

Does your child have a headache every day without other symptoms?

Does your child have a headache 2 or more times per week?

Are you giving your child nonprescription pain medicine (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) for a headache more than 1 time a week?

Does your child miss school because of his or her headaches?

Are you unable to find the cause of your child's headache? Causes may include lack of sleep or dehydration.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is your headache so severe that you cannot return to sleep?

Were you awakened from sleep by a headache but were able to return to sleep?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a moderate to severe headache with nausea and vomiting?

Do you have mild to moderate dehydration, and you are not able to drink enough to replace lost fluids?

Have you had a headache without other symptoms off and on for the past 48 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have a severe headache that is made worse by any type of activity?

Is your mild to moderate headache caused or made worse by exercise?

Is your mild to moderate headache caused or made worse by sexual activity?

Is your mild to moderate headache caused or made worse by straining to have a bowel movement?

Is your mild to moderate headache caused or made worse by coughing?

Is your mild to moderate headache caused or made worse by bending your head forward?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had a severe headache for 1 hour or longer?

Have you had a moderate headache for 12 hours or longer?

Have you had a mild headache for 24 hours or longer that has improved but not gone away?

Have your headaches prevented you from completing your daily activities, such as school or work?

Have persistent headaches caused you to limit your usual activities for 2 weeks or longer?

Have you used prescription or nonprescription medicine to control your headaches for 2 weeks or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think your headache may be caused by emotional abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think your headache may be caused by a medicine?Note: If your answer is Yes:Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine to determine whether you should stop taking the medicine or take a different one. An appointment may not be necessary.If you are taking a medicine or using an alternative therapy not prescribed by a doctor (nonprescription), stop taking the medicine or using the alternative therapy. Call your doctor if you feel you need to continue taking the medicine or using the alternative therapy or if you need help to control your symptoms.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Are you having headaches more often?

Are your headaches more severe?

Are your headaches interfering with your school, work, or social activities?

Has the location of your headache pain changed?

Has the type of pain from your headaches changed?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.