Expert review of neurotherapeutics
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Expert Rev Neurother · Mar 2021
Evaluating and managing severe headache in the emergency department.
Introduction: Headache is the fifth most common reason to visit an emergency department (ED). In most of the cases, headache is benign and has a primary origin, with migraine as the most common diagnosis. Inappropriate use of ED for non-emergency conditions causes overcrowding, unnecessary testing, and increased medical costs. ⋯ Finally, the authors evaluated the habit of recommending medical follow-up and how often the headache is still present at discharge or returns within 24 hours. Expert Opinion: Primary headaches are underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and the majority do not receive drug therapy either in ED or on discharge, and in cases where the therapy is prescribed is not specific. Increase the number of primary care medical services, spread the 'headaches culture' among GPs and ED doctors, the adoption of ICHD in the diagnostic protocols used in EDs and a fast referral to a headache center could decrease the inappropriate use of ED and improve the headache management in the emergency units.