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

• Headache due to Localized Brain Infection

What is Headache Attributed to Localized Brain Infection? (Definition/Background Information)

• Headache Attributed to Localized Brain Infection is a headache disorder that occurs secondary to a localized brain infection such as the following:
  • Brain abscess - that may be caused by bacteria, fungi, or other parasites
  • Infectious granuloma - due to infections such as aspergillosis, cysticercosis, sarcoidosis, or toxoplasmosis
  • Other localized infective lesions
  • Subdural empyema - that in many cases is the result of sinusitis or meningitis
• When associated with infections, the headache may be a “new” headache, or the exacerbation of a pre-existing headache may take place, which then becomes chronic. Any form of headache may develop in the affected individual, which increases in severity as the infection progresses
• Apart from one-sided headaches, the affected individual is usually known to experience fever, nausea and vomiting, seizures, altered mental status, and other neurological signs and symptoms. The headaches may be worsened by straining activities such as coughing or exercising
• Causes attributed to development of the headache from localized brain infections include:
  • Compression of the brain structures
  • Elevated intracranial pressure
  • Fever
  • Involvement of the brain arterial structures
  • Meningeal irritation
• The headache is known to improve and regress on undertaking suitable management of the underlying infection, usually remitting completely with treatment. Similarly, a progression of the infection to involve larger areas of the brain in the absence of adequate treatment can worsen the headache

The criteria for diagnosis of Headache Attributed to Localized Brain Infection as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• A localized brain infection has been demonstrated by neuroimaging and/or specimen analysis
• Any headache fulfilling the criterion below

Evidence of causation demonstrated by at least two of the following:

• Headache has developed in close temporal relation to development of the localized brain infection, or led to its discovery
• Headache has significantly worsened in parallel with deterioration of the localized brain infection shown by either of the following:
• Worsening of other symptoms and/or clinical signs arising from the localized brain infection
• Evidence of enlargement (or rupture, in the case of brain abscess) of the localized brain infection
• Headache has significantly improved in parallel with improvement in the localized brain infection
• Headache has at least one of the following characteristics:
  • Intensity increasing gradually, over several hours or days, to moderate or severe
  • Aggravated by straining or other Valsalva maneuver
  • Accompanied by fever, nausea and/or vomiting
  • Unilateral, and ipsilateral to the localized brain infection

Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

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