What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Headache due to Disorder of the Nose or Paranasal Sinuses

What is Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Nose or Paranasal Sinuses? (Definition/Background Information)

• Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Nose or Paranasal Sinuses is a headache disorder that occurs secondary to any disorder of the nose or paranasal sinuses such as rhinosinusitis. Apart from headaches, there may be other associated signs and symptoms of the disorder
• The following two subtypes of Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Nose or Paranasal Sinuses are recognized:
  • Headache Attributed to Acute Rhinosinusitis
  • Headache Attributed to Chronic or Recurring Rhinosinusitis
• A progression of the disorder in the absence of adequate treatment can worsen the headache. The headache is known to improve and regress on undertaking suitable management of the underlying disorder
• The usage of the term “sinus headache” is not encouraged since it has been interchangeably used to describe primary headaches involving the nose and paranasal sinuses and secondary headaches that arise from diseases and conditions affecting the nasal and paranasal sinus regions

The criteria for diagnosis of Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Nose or Paranasal Sinuses as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• Clinical, nasal endoscopic and/or imaging evidence of any disorder of the nose or paranasal sinuses known to be able to cause headache
• Any headache fulfilling the criterion below:

Evidence of causation demonstrated by any of the following:

• Headache has developed in temporal relation to the onset of the disorder of the nose or paranasal sinuses
• Either or both of the following:
  • Headache has significantly worsened in parallel with worsening of the disorder of the nose or paranasal sinuses
  • Headache has significantly improved or resolved in parallel with improvement in or resolution of the disorder of the nose or paranasal sinuses
• Headache is exacerbated by pressure applied over the region
• In the case of a unilateral disorder, headache is localized and ipsilateral to it

Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)