Ictal headache

Ictal headache (Headache and Epilepsy)
SpecialtyNeurology

A headache is often present in patients with epilepsy. If the headache occurs in the vicinity of a seizure, it is defined as peri-ictal headache, which can occur either before (pre-ictal) or after (post-ictal) the seizure, to which the term ictal refers. An ictal headache [1] itself may or may not be an epileptic manifestation. In the first case, it is defined as ictal epileptic headache [2] or simply epileptic headache.[3] It is a type of pain seizure that can remain isolated or be followed by other manifestations of the seizure.[3] On the other hand, a ictal non-epileptic headache is a headache that occurs during a seizure but it is not due to an epileptic mechanism. When the headache does not occur in the vicinity of a seizure, it is defined as inter-ictal headache. In the case it's a disorder separate from epilepsy, it's a comorbidity.

  1. ^ Piccioli M, Parisi P, Tisei P, Villa MP, Buttinelli C, Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenité DG (February 2009). "Ictal headache and visual sensitivity". Cephalalgia. 29 (2): 194–203. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01707.x. PMID 18823360. S2CID 7911641.
  2. ^ Parisi P, Verrotti A, Costa P, Striano P, Zanus C, Carrozzi M, Raucci U, Villa MP, Belcastro V (September 2015). "Diagnostic criteria currently proposed for "ictal epileptic headache": perspectives on strengths, weaknesses and pitfalls". Seizure. 31 (2): 56–63. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2015.07.005. PMID 26362378. S2CID 18739241.
  3. ^ a b Cianchetti C, Dainese F, Ledda MG, Avanzini G (November 2017). "Epileptic headache: a rare form of painful seizure". Seizure. 52: 169–175. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2017.10.010. PMID 29054038.