Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania

Paroxysmal hemicrania The ( paroxysmal " paroxysmal "; Hemicrania " half head ( / skull ) pain " ) is a headache condition which is characterized by strictly unilateral pain attacks. The pain is very strong, pungent - boring to vibrant and occur per day on at least five times. In extreme cases, may occur on the day up to 40 seizures. Your typical localization is in the area of the eye socket, forehead and / or temple. An attack lasts 2-45 minutes. One of the diagnostic criteria includes the emergence of the following symptoms during the attacks on the affected side: redness of the conjunctiva, lacrimation, engorgement of the nasal mucosa, Nasenträufeln, drooping eyelid, swelling of the eyelids. From similar cluster headache Paroxysmal hemicrania differs by the shorter but more frequent attacks and the need for rest during the attack ( during the cluster headache a restlessness is typical). However, the decisive criterion is the therapeutic efficacy of indomethacin, without which the diagnosis can not be made. Another differential diagnosis of paroxysmal hemicrania may be migraine or hemicrania continua that.

In addition to the chronic form, which is the rule, even a few cases of episodic paroxysmal hemicrania are described in which for weeks to months-long symptom- free intervals followed by frequent attacks of pain.

Epidemiology

Women are affected about three times more frequently. The age of onset is usually in the third decade of life.

Therapy

In addition to indomethacin sometimes Verapamil is used for waste prevention, the study location is currently allowed but no general recommendation. Other analgesics are clearly inferior in efficacy.