Cluster headache

A cluster headache is a kind of nerve disease. Its most prominent feature is a strong and one-sided pain in the area behind and around the eye. "Cluster" refers to the tendency of these headaches to occur periodically, with active periods interrupted by spontaneous remissions. Some patients do not have remission periods. The headaches can last anywhere from 15–180 minutes and, in severe cases can occur many times a day. The cause of the disease is currently unknown.

Symptoms

Cluster headaches can have different symptoms. Most patients get restless or agitated during an attack, unlike migraine patients who usually would prefer to stay calm and lie down in a dark room. Other symptoms can be a runny nose, nasal congestion and/or a red and/or tearing eye on the side of the headache.

Other websites

• The International Headache Society (IHS): 2nd Edition of The International Headache Classification (ICHD-2) - 3.1 Cluster Headache
• Diagnosis and treatment from National Guideline Clearinghouse (DHHS)
• A. May, M. Leone, J. Áfra, M. Linde, P. S. Sándor, S. Evers, P. J. Goadsby: EFNS guidelines on the treatment of cluster headache and other trigeminalautonomic cephalalgias. European Journal of Neurology. 2006; 13: 1066–1077. PMID 16987158. Free full text (PDF)
• Leroux E, Ducros A: Cluster headache. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2008 Jul 23;3:20. PMID 18651939
• Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches (O.U.C.H.)