Value
Cluster headache is an intense, always unilateral pain localized in the orbital region, above the orbital region, in the temporal region, or of mixed localization. The duration of such an attack is usually 15 – 180 minutes.
The frequency of occurrence of this type of headache ranges from 0.5 to 8 times in twenty-four hours.
Symptoms
Attacks are accompanied by one/more of the following symptoms:
- conjunctival vascular injection,
- increased lacrimation,
- nasal congestion or discharge,
- facial sweating,
- miosis,
- ptosis or eyelid swelling.
In many patients, the attack is accompanied by motor agitation.
Forms
Cluster headache is presented in the following forms:
- Episodic (the duration of attacks ranges from seven days to one year; attacks are followed by periods of remission lasting more than one month).
- Chronic (duration of attacks for more than one year without periods of remission, or with them lasting less than one month).
Diagnostic criteria
A. At least five attacks that meet the criteria in items BD.
B. Intense or extremely intense unilateral pain of orbital, supraorbital and/or temporal localization, lasting from 15 to 180 minutes without treatment.
C. The headache attack is accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms:
- Conjunctival redness, tearing,
- Nasal discharge or congestion,
- Eyelid swelling,
- Constriction of the pupil,
- Increased facial sweating,
- Drooping eyelid,
- Feelings of anxiety,
D. Frequency of attacks – from one in 48 hours to eight in 24 hours,
E. Inability to associate headache with other nosologies
Treatment
The treatment of cluster headache is complex.
In addition to drug therapy, radiofrequency destruction of the trigeminal ganglion is performed at the Ternopil Regional Hospital .
