| IHS | Diagnosis | ICD-10 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2 | Frequent episodic tension-type headache | G44.2 |
Description:
Frequent episodes of headache lasting minutes to days. The pain is typically bilateral, pressing or tightening in quality and of mild to moderate intensity, and it does not worsen with routine physical activity. There is no nausea but photophobia or phonophobia may be present.
Diagnostic criteria:
- At least 10 episodes occurring on ≥1 but <15 days per month for at least 3 months (≥12 and <180 days per year) and fulfilling criteria B-D
- Headache lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days
- Headache has at least two of the following characteristics:
- bilateral location
- pressing/tightening (non-pulsating) quality
- mild or moderate intensity
- not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs
- Both of the following:
- no nausea or vomiting (anorexia may occur)
- no more than one of photophobia or phonophobia
- Not attributed to another disorder1
Note:
- History and physical and neurological examinations do not suggest any of the disorders listed in groups 5-12, or history and/or physical and/or neurological examinations do suggest such disorder but it is ruled out by appropriate investigations, or such disorder is present but headache does not occur for the first time in close temporal relation to the disorder.
Comment:
Frequent tension-type headache often coexists with migraine without aura. Coexisting tension-type headache in migraineurs should preferably be identified by a diagnostic headache diary. The treatment of migraine differs considerably from that of tension-type headache and it is important to educate patients to differentiate between these types of headaches in order to select the right treatment and to prevent medication-overuse headache.
