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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This report concerns a 51-year-old right-handed man with Japanese encephalitis, showing left hemiplegia and left hemispatial neglect. On admission, he had a slight fever, mild consciousness disturbance, left hemiplegia, and left hemispatial neglect but no neck stiffness, headache nor nausea. He was treated on the basis of cerebral infarction, but his fever and consciousness disturbance worsened. We found pleocytosis (145/mm3) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and right thalamic edema on a brain CT scan obtained 4 days later. He was finally diagnosed as having Japanese encephalitis on the basis of an increase in anti-viral antibodies observed in paired CSF and serum samples. In the exacerbation phase, 123I-IMP single photon emission CT (SPECT) demonstrated a marked decrease in cerebral perfusion in the right hemisphere, while a brain MRI revealed irregular lesions localized the right thalamus (mainly posterior and medial parts), showing low intensity on T1-weighted and high intensity on T2-weighted images. In the recovery phase, asymmetrical perfusion was no longer observed on SPECT and the symptoms including the left hemispatial neglect had improved. These findings suggest that the left hemispatial neglect in this patient might been caused by the right thalamic lesion resulting in damage to the activating system of the right hemisphere. This case thus shows that acute onset of hemispatial neglect could be caused by cerebral encephalitis.
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PMID:[Japanese encephalitis presenting with left hemiplegia and thalamic neglect--a case report]. 1125 92

Human parvovirus B19 infection can cause erythema infectiosum (EI) and several other clinical presentations. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare, and only a few reports of encephalitis and aseptic meningitis have been published. Here, we describe 2 cases of B19 infection in a family presenting different clinical features. A 30 year old female with a 7-day history of headache, malaise, myalgias, joint pains, and rash was seen. Physical examination revealed a maculopapular rash on the patient's body, and arthritis of the hands. She completely recovered in 1 week. Two days before, her 6 year old son had been admitted to a clinic with a 1-day history of fever, headache, abdominal pain and vomiting. On admission, he was alert, and physical examination revealed neck stiffness, Kerning and Brudzinski signs, and a petechial rash on his trunk and extremities. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was normal. He completely recovered in 5 days. Acute and convalescent sera of both patients were positive for specific IgM antibody to B19. Human parvovirus B19 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, particularly during outbreaks of erythema infectiosum. The disease may mimic meningococcemia and bacterial meningitis.
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PMID:Two family members with a syndrome of headache and rash caused by human parvovirus B19. 1129 Mar 13

The authors present an unusual complication of a recurrent chiasmal/hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma. From his second year of life onwards, the patient was repeatedly operated on and also underwent external radiation therapy (54 Gy total dose) 1 month after the first subtotal tumor resection. Nine years after irradiation, the patient was referred to our center with a sudden onset of severe headache, vomiting and neck stiffness. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebral angiography demonstrated an intratumoral, intraventricular, and subarachnoidal hemorrhage from an anterior communicating artery aneurysm encased in the pilocytic astrocytoma. The aneurysm was clipped and the patient recovered nicely from the hemorrhage. Three years later, the patient suddenly died of cardiac failure. Autopsy disclosed vessel wall changes compatible with radiation-induced vasculopathy. In light of this finding, the importance of radiation therapy and intracranial neoplasms for aneurysm formation is discussed.
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PMID:Intracranial hemorrhage from an aneurysm encased in a pilocytic astrocytoma--case report and review of the literature. 1130 72

The authors report a spontaneous, unusual complication of coarctation of the aorta. An 11 year old child was admitted for investigation of chest pain. Cardiovascular examination revealed typical clinical signs of coarctation of the aorta. Neurological examination found neck stiffness without headache or deficit. The presumptive diagnosis of dissection of the aorta was infirmed by echocardiography and MRI. The latter investigation, with views of the spinal cord, revealed a compressive medullary extradural haematoma. Antihypertensive therapy and corticosteroids with strict bed rest resulted in complete regression of the haematoma and the coarctation was operated 6 months later. Medullary complications of coarctation of the aorta are usually postoperative. Spontaneous complications are exceedingly rare but very serious: medullary compression by the dilated anterior spinal artery or rupture of an aneurysmal collateral vessel. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging led to diagnosis and effective early treatment of this complication before the patient developed a neurological deficit and the coarctation was treated surgically thereafter.
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PMID:[Medullary extradural hematoma revealing a coarctation of the aorta]. 1143 22

Bacterial meningitis remains a highly lethal disease in older adults, with mortality rates averaging >20% despite modern antibiotic therapy. In this population, more variable presentations are seen, with fewer patients manifesting fever, neck stiffness, and headache than among younger adults. In addition, many older adults (aged > or =60 years) may have other underlying diseases causing symptoms that may be confused with those of meningitis. The spectrum of etiologic bacterial organisms is more broad than that for a younger population, in part because of the increased frequency of severe underlying diseases and in part as a result of immunosenescence. Therapy is complicated by both the range of possible causative organisms and the increasing antibiotic resistance manifested by some. These difficulties, contrasted with the success of vaccination in the pediatric population, highlight the need for improved preventive strategies for older adults. This review outlines some key clinical points in the management of bacterial meningitis in the older adult.
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PMID:Bacterial meningitis in aging adults. 1155 Jan 19

A case of a 37-year-old man with urinary retention secondary to aseptic meningitis is described. He was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever, nausea, headache, and gait disturbance. He had begun treatment 1 week previously for high fever, headache and joint pain at an outpatient department. On admission, neurological examination revealed neck stiffness, spasticity and hyperreflexia of the extremities, hypesthesia of the lower extremities, and ataxic gait. A spinal fluid examination revealed aseptic meningitis. Disturbed consciousness, diplopia, aphasia, tetraparesis, and urinary retention appeared after admission. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed no abnormal lesions. On the 2nd day of hospitalization, a Foley catheter was inserted for urinary retention. The patient was treated with conservative therapy, and his symptoms gradually resolved. The Foley catheter was removed on hospital day 13, but bladder dysfunction was persisted. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed herniated lumbar discs at level L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, but the nerve roots were not compressed. The patient was managed with clean intermittent catheterization for more than two weeks. Cystometry revealed atonic bladder. Nineteen cases of urinary retention secondary to aseptic meningitis have been reported in the previous literature. We reviewed their clinical presentation and treatment.
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PMID:[A case of urinary retention secondary to aseptic meningitis]. 1157 16

Meningococcal meningitis has been occurring worldwide in both endemic and epidemic forms. Serogroup A accounts for majority of cases of epidemic as well as endemic Meningococcal meningitis in developing nations, whereas group C and group B causes epidemic and endemic meningococcal meningitis in developed countries. Person to person spread of N. meningitides generally occurs through inhalation of droplets of infected nasopharyngeal secretions by direct or indirect oral contact. Incubation period varies from 2 to 10 days. N. meningitides typically causes acute infective illness characterized by sequential development of upper respiratory tract infection, meningococcemia, meningitis and focal neurological deficit. Over 90 per cent cases of adult meningococcal infections have cerebrospinal meningitis, whereas in children prevalence of meningitis is much lower (50 per cent). Acute meningitis manifests with fever, severe headache, vomiting and neck stiffness. Presentations may be non-specific in infants, elderly and in patients with fulminant meningococcemia. Diagnosis is confirmed with cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Overall mortality due to meningitis is usually around 10 per cent. In meningococcal septicemia, the case fatality rate may exceed 50 per cent. Preventive strategies include vaccination, chemoprophylaxis and early detection and treatment. Mass vaccination campaign, if appropriately carried out, has been documented to halt an epidemic of meningococcal disease due to serogroup A or C. In the present review we have discussed the available evidence with regards to prevention at primary, secondary and tertiary level. Public health approach to an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis in a community or an organization is also outlined.
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PMID:Meningococcal meningitis outbreak control strategies. 1166 37

Because of its large spectrum of clinical manifestations, diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis may be very difficult. Since appropriate treatment influences prognosis, early recognition of this condition is extremely important. We report a subarachnoid hemorrhage as a rare initial manifestation of cerebral venous thrombosis. A 58-year-old woman was admitted with severe headache of sudden onset, neck stiffness, dysarthria, and ataxia. Computed tomography scan showed a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right posterior fossa. Magnetic resonance imaging coupled with magnetic resonance angiography revealed right transverse/sigmoid sinus thrombosis with hemorrhagic infarction of the right cerebellar hemisphere leading to a pseudotumoral appearance and displacing the fourth ventricle. Anticoagulant treatment resulted in rapid clinical recovery and in resolution of the radiological signs of infarction and of the subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhages.
Headache 2001 Oct
PMID:Subarachnoid hemorrhage: a rare presentation of cerebral venous thrombosis. 1170 76

Sudden onset headache is a common condition that sometimes indicates a life-threatening subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) but is mostly harmless. We have performed a prospective study of 137 consecutive patients with this kind of headache (thunderclap headache=TCH). The examination included a CT scan, CSF examination and follow-up of patients with no SAH during the period between 2 days and 12 months after the headache attack. The incidence was 43 per 100 000 inhabitants >18 years of age per year; 11.3% of the patients with TCH had SAH. Findings in other patients indicated cerebral infarction (five), intracerebral haematoma (three), aseptic meningitis (four), cerebral oedema (one) and sinus thrombosis (one). Thus no specific finding indicating the underlying cause of the TCH attack was found in the majority of the patients. A slightly increased prevalence of migraine was found in the non-SAH patients (28%). The attacks occurred in 11 cases (8%) during sexual activity and two of these had an SAH. Nausea, neck stiffness, occipital location and impaired consciousness were significantly more frequent with SAH but did not occur in all cases. Location in the temporal region and pressing headache quality were the only features that were more common in non-SAH patients. Recurrent attacks of TCH occurred in 24% of the non-SAH patients. No SAH occurred later in this group, nor in any of the other patients. It was concluded that attacks caused by a SAH cannot be distinguished from non-SAH attacks on clinical grounds. It is important that patients with their first TCH attack are investigated with CT and CSF examination to exclude SAH, meningitis or cerebral infarction. The results from this and previous studies indicate that it is not necessary to perform angiography in patients with a TCH attack, provided that no symptoms or signs indicate a possible brain lesion and a CT scan and CSF examination have not indicated SAH.
Cephalalgia 2002 Jun
PMID:Sudden onset headache: a prospective study of features, incidence and causes. 1211 Jan 11

During the summer of 2000, 35 patients with West Nile Virus Fever were admitted to our hospital. Of these, the 26 (21 adults, mean age 56 (19-86) and 5 children (aged 9-15)) presented have neurological involvement, 33% with meningitis, 52% with meningoencephalitis, 10% with encephalitis and 5% with acute polyneuropathy. Presenting clinical features were fever in 95% of cases, headache in 90%, nausea/vomiting in 52%, confusion in 48%, somnolence in 38%, neck stiffness in 33%, a skin rash in 19%, diarrhea in 14%, cervical pain in 14%, seizure in 9%, photophobia in 9% and limb weakness in 4%. Leucopenia was not found. Two patients diagnosed with meningoencephalitis died. Three patients had signs of an acute polyneuropathy, this being the only complaint of one patient. The EEG was abnormal in all cases of meningitis or meningoencephalitis, except in three cases. Outbreaks of West Nile Virus Fever are emerging as a worldwide disease with high rates of neurological involvement and death. It should be considered in cases presenting with aseptic meningoencephalitis, meningitis and acute polyneuropathy, especially during the summer months and in areas along bird migration pathways.
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PMID:Neurological features of West Nile virus infection during the 2000 outbreak in a regional hospital in Israel. 1212 78


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