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Headache

Leo Leonidas MD, FAAP

Why Have a List of Differential Diagnosis?

It is important for clinicians to frequently refer to a list of differential diagnosis so they could ask good questions from the patient or parent. A good clinical history depends on a complete list of differential diagnosis of the chief complaint or main problem.

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CAUSES OF HEADACHE IN CHILDREN

Mnemonic: HEADACHE OPTIC BMBM N

H Hydocephalus
E Eye strain
A Aneurysm
D Dental problems
A A-V malformation
C Cluster headache
H Hypoglycemia
E Epilepsy

O Occipital Neuralgia
P Pseudotomor cerebri, Post-traumatic, Psychogenic
T Tension, Trigeminal neuralgia, TMJ
I sInusitis
C Chronic subdural hematoma

B Brain tumor
M Meningeal leukemia
B Brain Abscess
M Migraine

N Neck problems

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A story how to remember the causes of Headache

A man with a big head (Hydrocephalus) has his
eyes squinting (Eye problems). Inside his big head
is a balloon (imagine a ballooning of an artery, so,
Aneurysm) and metals (dental appliances, so
Dental Problems) that are not properly formed (A-V
malformations) and some of them in clusters (Cluster
Headache). This man with a big head missed
his lunch and developed low sugar (Hypoglycemia)
which resulted to Seizure.

I developmed this mnemonic and story.

Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP
Assitant Clinical Professor in Pediatrics
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston

copyright 2002

Belly Pain   Air Leaks From Lungs   Acute Crying   Back Pain   Bed Wetting   Big Lymph Node   Big Spleen   Blood in Urine Chronic Diarrhea   Chest Pain   Cough   Coughing Up Blood   Constipation Droopy Eye   Enlarged Glands   Eye Swelling   Excessive Thrist   Facial Paralysis   Fainting Spell   Feeding Problem GI Bleeding   Headache   Head Tilt   Hives   High ESR   Hoarseness   Joint Pain   Limp   Leg Pain   Muscle Weakness   Noisy Breathing   Nose Bleeding   Nose Obstruction   Pyuria   Recurrent Infection   Red Green Urine   Ringing in the Ears Scrotal Swelling   Seizures   Stiff Neck   Swelling of the Parotic Gland   Toe Walking   Toeing In   Toeing Out   Unequal Pupils   Vomiting   Wheezing
 

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