Home Introduction Prefaces Introduction to the classification How to Use This Classification Subcommittees and working groups The Classification Table of contents Part I: The primary headaches Part II: The secondary headaches Part III: Cranial neuralgias, facial pain and other headaches Appendix Definition of Terms

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1. MIGRAINE 2. TENSION-TYPE HEADACHE (TTH) 3. CLUSTER HEADACHE AND OTHER TRIGEMINAL AUTONOMIC CEPHALALGIAS 4. OTHER PRIMARY HEADACHES 4.2. Primary cough headache 4.3. Primary exertional headache 4.4. Primary headache associated with sexual activity 4.5. Hypnic headache 4.6. Primary thunderclap headache 4.7. Hemicrania continua 4.8. New daily-persistent headache (NDPH) Bibliography

IHS	Diagnosis	ICD-10
4	OTHER PRIMARY HEADACHES	G44.80

General comment

Primary or secondary headache or both?

When a new headache occurs for the first time in close temporal relation to another disorder that is a known cause of headache, this headache is coded according to the causative disorder as a secondary headache. This is also true if the headache has the characteristics of migraine or other primary headache. When a pre-existing primary headache is made worse in close temporal relation to another disorder that is a known cause of headache, there are two possibilities, and judgment is required. The patient can either be given only the diagnosis of the pre-existing primary headache or be given both this diagnosis and a secondary headache diagnosis according to the other disorder. Factors that support adding the latter diagnosis are: a very close temporal relation to the disorder, a marked worsening of the pre-existing headache, very good evidence that the disorder can cause or aggravate the primary headache and, finally, improvement or resolution of the primary headache after relief from the disorder.

Introduction

This chapter includes headaches that are clinically heterogeneous. The pathogenesis of these types of headache is still poorly understood, and their treatment is suggested on the basis of anecdotal reports or uncontrolled trials.

Several headache disorders included in this chapter can be symptomatic and need careful evaluation by imaging and/or other appropriate tests.

The onset of some of these headaches, 4.6 Primary thunderclap headache especially, can be acute and affected patients are usually assessed in Emergency Departments. Appropriate and full investigation (neuroimaging, in particular) is mandatory in these cases.

The chapter also includes some clinical entities, such as 4.1 Primary stabbing headache and 4.5 Hypnic headache (this latter recently described), that are primary in most cases.

Sitemap

Consult the Sitemap to learn more about the structure of the classification and its main chapters.

IHS vs. ICD-10

To facilitate headache diagnosis in daily practice, the classification provides the corresponding WHO ICD-10NA codes for each IHS code.

IHS Subcommittee

The Classification Subcommittee prepares and revises the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Downloads

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Cephalalgia

Cephalalgia is the official journal of the IHS. It contains original papers on all aspects of headache. The journal provides an international forum for original research papers, review articles and short communications.www.cephalalgia.org

IHS Discussion Group

Ask questions and share information about the 2nd edition of the Headache Classification in one of our peer-to-peer forums. To the Discussion Group

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