Paroxysmal Hemicrania
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What is Paroxysmal Hemicrania?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus
What is Paroxysmal Hemicrania?
Paroxysmal hemicrania is a rare form of headache that usually begins in adulthood. Patients experience severe throbbing, claw-like,
or boring pain usually on one side of the face; in, around, or behind the eye; and occasionally reaching to the back of the
neck. This pain may be accompanied by red and tearing eyes, a drooping or swollen eyelid on the affected side of the face,
and nasal congestion. Patients may also feel dull pain, soreness, or tenderness between attacks. Attacks of paroxysmal hemicrania
typically occur from 5 to 40 times per day and last 2 to 45 minutes. The disorder has two forms: chronic, in which patients
experience attacks on a daily basis for a year or more, and episodic, in which the headaches may remit for months or years.
Certain movements of the head or neck or external pressure to the neck may trigger these headaches in some patients. The disorder
is more common in women than in men.
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
American Council for Headache Education 19 Mantua Road Mt. Royal, NJ 08061 achehq@talley.com http://www.achenet.org Tel: 856-423-0258 800-255-ACHE (255-2243) Fax: 856-423-0082 |
National Headache Foundation 820 N. Orleans Suite 217 Chicago, IL 60610-3132 info@headaches.org http://www.headaches.org Tel: 312-274-2650 888-NHF-5552 (643-5552) Fax: 312-640-9049 |
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Last updated July 31, 2008