The commonest causes of headache are tension and migraine. Other less common causes are subarachnoid haemorrhage, temporal arteritis, meningitis and space occupying lesions. Headache also occurs with trigeminal neuralgia and sinusitis. This is characterised by a band-like headache over the whole of the head lasting for hours or days. It is not normally associated with vomiting or visual symptoms.
Treatment consists of simple painkillers.
Migraine This is a recurrent headache affecting one side of the head and usually associated with nausea or vomiting. There may also be visual symptoms such as flashing or shimmering lights. There may be a family history of migraine or a personal history of abdominal pain in childhood. Trigger factors include the pill, caffeine and alcohol. Cluster headaches are a special type of migraine which cause intense pain going into one eye which may redden and water.