Clinical exam skills: a complicated headache
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0409318 (Published 01 September 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:0409318
- Ian C Bickle, medical senior house officer1,
- Michael Watt, consultant neurologist1,
- Steven McKinstry, consultant neuroradiologist1
- 1Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast
A 26 year old woman was admitted to hospital with headache, double vision, and visual disturbance. She had been on holiday to Spain six weeks previously, and before flying home she had had four days of vomiting from a presumed viral illness. For the next four weeks she had had severe headaches, which were worse on coughing and stooping. These headaches were most apparent first thing in the morning and were only partially relieved by simple analgesics. The double vision was noted in all directions of gaze but was worst when she looked to the left (figs 1 to 5 …
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