Why infections cause headaches

A severe headache may also result from viral infections that specifically attack the brain and its coverings, such as encephalitis and meningitis. Chronic viral infections have been implicated as a cause of headache and other conditions, such as the chronic fatigue syndrome.

However, there is scant evidence to support chronic viral infection as a cause of chronic headache and substantial medical research that negates this theory.

The acute severe headache — assessment and treatment. Comp Ther ;28 4 Seydoux C, Francioli P. Bacterial brain abscesses: Factors influencing mortality and sequelae. Clin Infect Dis ;15 3 Silberstein, Lipton, Dalessio. Oxford Press, Seventh Ed. Smetana G. The diagnostic value of historical features in primary headache syndromes. Arch Intern Med. Epidemiology of headache in Europe. European J Neurol ; Widico C. Does this patient have temporal arteritis?

Ann Emerg Med ;45 1 Migraine without aura begins during the aura or follows aura within 1 hour. Headache attacks that last 4 to 72 hours untreated or unsuccessfully treated.

From The International Headache Society. Subarachnoid hemorrhage or a secondary headache even in an individual with previous primary headache. Hemotympanum, otorrhea, rhinorrhea, mastoid ecchymosis Battle Sign , Periorbital ecchymosis raccoon eyes. Tumor, cerebral ischemia, abscess, subdural or epidural hematoma, subarachnoid or intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

Elevated intracranial pressure from tumor, optic neuritis, hypertensive encephalopathy, benign intracranial hypertension. Vasomotor active and reduces neurogenic inflammation. Can be given IV for severe headaches in an inpatient setting, but patients should be monitored on cardiac telemetry due to coronary vasoconstrictor concerns. Dopamine antagonist in the chemoreceptor trigger zone as well as peripheral stomach receptors. Intravenous prochlorperazine or chlorpromazine can be used to abortively for severe migraine but are typically given in an inpatient setting due to concerns of hypotensive and extrapyramidal side effects.

Streptococcus agalactiae , Escherichia coli , Listeria monocytogenes , Klebsiella spp. Streptococcus pneumoniae , Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Haemophilus influenzae , Escherichia coli. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Listeria monocytogenes, aerobic gram-negative bacilli. Staphylococcus aureus , coagulase-negative staphylococci especially Staphylococcus epidermidis , aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus , coagulase-negative staphylococci especially Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci especially Staphylococcus epidermidis , Staphylococcus aureus , aerobic gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Propionibacterium acnes. May add tobramycin to above if severe infection. Oral outpatient therapy should include cipro mg every 12 hours. Add ampicillin if concern regarding Listeria. Clinical Manifestations. Laboratory Diagnosis. Waldman SD, et al. Headache pain of ear, nose, throat and sinus origin.

Med Clin North Am ; Headache Authors: Roland Jones, M. Monograph Tables What's New Reviews History Headache is commonly defined as head pain cephalgia not limited to the distribution of a cranial or cervical nerve neuralgia.

E pidemiology Headaches are a common problem, impacting both quality of life and occupation. P athogenesis Modern neuroscience has seen much progress in the explanation of the pathogenesis of headaches in the past two decades, but much is still unknown.

Di fferential Diagnosis The differential diagnosis of cephalgia includes primary headache syndromes such as migraine, cluster, and tension headaches, and numerous heterogeneous disorders including infections causing secondary headaches. Cl inical Manifestations Clinical history and physical examination are the most important element in headache diagnosis. Tierney L. Current Diagnosis and Treatment. McGraw-Hill, Tables Ta ble 1. Causes of Secondary Headache Syndromes Trauma Closed head injury Epidural and subdural hematomas Intraparenchymal hemorrhage Subarachnoid hemorrhage Infection Meningitis and meningoencephalitis Brain abscess Prosthetic device infection e.

Medications Frequently Associated with Headache. At least 2 attacks that fulfill criteria B-D B. Headache fulfilling criteria B-D for Migraine without aura begins during the aura or follows aura within 1 hour E. At least 5 attacks that fulfill criteria B - D B. Headache attacks that last 4 to 72 hours untreated or unsuccessfully treated C. Headache has at least 2 of the following characteristics: Unilateral site Pulsating quality Moderate to severe intensity Aggravation by walking stairs or similar routine physical activity D.

During headache, at least 1 of the following symptoms: Nausea or vomiting or both Photophobia and phonophobia E. Can be given IV for severe headaches in an inpatient setting, but patients should be monitored on cardiac telemetry due to coronary vasoconstrictor concerns Dihydroergotamine intravenous DHE 0. Toradol 60 mg IM. Cutrer FM. Primary cough headache. Garza I, et al.

Overview of chronic daily headache. Friedman BW, et al. Headache emergencies: Diagnosis and management. Neurological Clinics. Headache hygiene tips. Accessed March 8, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cutrer FM, et al. Cough, exercise, and sex headaches. Neurologic Clinics. Bajwa ZH, et al. Evaluation of headache in adults. Evans RW, et al.

Postconcussion syndrome. Green MW. Secondary headaches. In: Continuum Lifelong Learning Neurology. Simon RA. Allergic and asthmatic reactions to food additives. External compression headache. International Headache Society. Seifert T.

Headache in sports. Current Pain and Headache Reports. The elusive hangover cure. Headache: Hope through research. When to see a physician for your headache. National Headache Foundation.

Mayo Clinic; Mao L, et al. Neurologic manifestations of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease in Wuhan, China. JAMA Neurology. See also 6 surprising signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea Acromegaly Act FAST if you suspect stroke Acute sinusitis Acute sinusitis: Do over-the-counter treatments help?

Antidepressants and alcohol: What's the concern? Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics. Because bacterial meningitis can be a serious, life-threatening infection, it's important to start treatment as soon as possible. Symptoms of meningitis may include severe headache, high fever, and neck stiffness.

With bacterial meningitis, it's important to start antibiotic treatment right away to prevent life-threatening complications. Encephalitis is an infection of the central nervous system that may be caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus.

Encephalitis is similar to meningitis, but a key difference is that encephalitis causes people to have abnormalities in brain function. Encephalitis is a serious, life-threatening disease that needs immediate medical attention. In addition to fever and headache, symptoms of encephalitis include:. Encephalitis causes symptoms with brain function as well, including:. Treatment depends on the type of encephalitis you have. If it's a bacterial infection, antibiotics should be prescribed.

For viral infections, antiviral medications may be given. Other treatments may depend on the severity of the illness. Steroids may be given to reduce swelling and brain pressure. Encephalitis can cause headache and fever along with a stiff neck and joint pain. Both are caused by viruses that spread easily from person to person.

The flu can cause mild symptoms or severe illness. In some instances, it can be serious enough to be life-threatening, especially for those over 65, people with chronic illnesses, and newborns. Along with fever and headache, other symptoms of the flu may include:.

When you have a cold, the symptoms can be similar to the flu. Fever and headache are possible but less common with a cold than with the flu.

Symptoms of a cold include:. Often, the best treatment for both the cold and flu is to stay home, get lots of rest, and drink lots of fluid. Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen may also help with a headache and fever.

If you have the flu, your doctor may be able to prescribe antiviral drugs. These can reduce the amount of time you're sick by a couple of days and decrease the chance of complications.

Physicians don't prescribe antibiotics for a cold or flu, since they're not effective against viruses. However, if you get a complication from the cold or flu, such as a sinus infection, you might need an antibiotic. For the flu and common cold, treatment includes ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain and fever. If you have the flu, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug to help reduce the risk of complications. A brain abscess is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition, in which infected fluid collects in the brain.

A headache from a brain abscess occurs as a result of elevated intracranial pressure as the fluid continues to grow and take up space.

Symptoms of a brain abscess can resemble that of meningitis or encephalitis. In addition to fever and headache, symptoms include:. Medication may be the first step if the abscess is less than 2 centimeters or the abscess is deep in the brain. This can include antibiotics or antifungal medication, depending on what caused the infection. Diuretics, which reduce fluid, may also be used to decrease swelling in the brain. Surgery may be needed to drain the abscess if it's larger than 2 centimeters or if it might rupture.

A brain abscess is a life-threatening condition where fluid builds up in the brain. Treatment may include medication or surgery.

A sinus infection , or sinusitis, is the swelling or inflammation of the lining in your sinuses. Your sinuses are hollow spaces behind your forehead, eyes, and cheeks that connect to your nasal passages. The sinuses make thin mucus that drains out of the nose.

When they become blocked with fluid, bacteria can grow and cause an infection. This extra mucus could be caused by a cold or allergies. A bacterial sinus infection can give you a fever and a sinus headache, which you may feel around your eyes and forehead. Other symptoms include:. If you have bacterial sinusitis, a week or so of antibiotics, rest, fluids, and steam should clear it up quickly.

Very rarely sinus infections lead to other complications like a brain abscess, meningitis, blood clot, or osteomyelitis —an infection of the facial bones especially the forehead. If you are diagnosed with a sinus infection, be sure to follow up with your healthcare provider if your fever persists while taking antibiotics. A sinus infection can cause facial tenderness and swelling along with a headache and fever.

Your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics for bacterial sinusitis. Heatstroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness. It happens when your body overheats to over degrees F and you aren't able to sweat enough to cool your body down. It can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

The symptoms of heatstroke include:.