cough headache

Etiology

• cough
• Chiari malformation (50%)

Epidemiology

• most common in older adults

Clinical manifestations

• occurs abruptly after coughing
• pressure-like pain generally bilateral
• remains severe for seconds to minutes
• headache severity correlates with cough frequency
• mild headache may persist for hours

Radiology

• MRI neuroimaging (rule out Chiari malformation)

Management

• responds to indomethacin

More general terms

• headache