Does scalp pain count as a headache? Understand these two causes in this article.
Most scalp pain is caused by secondary causes. Today we will talk about two kinds of scalp pain commonly encountered in neurology clinics-scalp pain secondary to herpes zoster and great occipital neuralgia. Post-herpetic scalp pain secondary to herpes zoster scalp pain secondary to herpes zoster can show local skin burning pain, tingling or lightning-like pain, and patients usually have burning and itching symptoms. obvious loss of sensation and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by tooth brushing can occur in the affected trigeminal nerve distribution area. Instead, it shows a strong pain response to hot or punctate stimuli. Physical examination shows local red protruding herpes, try to avoid secondary bacterial infection after scratching, pain should be given painkillers, great occipital neuralgia in the outpatient department of neurology often see some patients with pain in the back of the head near the base of the ear under the skull.
Source: [people's Daily]
In the past two days, Xiao Wang always feels a headache, like a needle, and sometimes itches. When he goes to the hospital for examination, it turns out that it is herpes zoster. Does scalp pain count as a headache? Yes, most scalp pains are caused by secondary causes. Today we will talk about two kinds of scalp pain commonly encountered in neurology clinics-scalp pain secondary to herpes zoster and great occipital neuralgia.
Scalp pain secondary to herpes zoster
The scalp pain secondary to herpes zoster is bounded by the line of both ears, and the skin distribution area of the head near the forehead is governed by the first branch of trigeminal nerve. If herpes zoster involves the first branch of trigeminal nerve, it can show local skin burning pain, tingling pain or lightning-like pain, and some people show numbness and abnormal skin pain, which is common in patients with impaired immune system.
Patients usually have burning and itching symptoms, and there can be significant anaesthesia and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by brushing teeth in the trigeminal nerve area involved. Most patients rarely show loss of sensation, but show a strong pain response to hot or punctate stimuli. Local red protruding herpes was found by physical examination, and varicella zoster virus antigen was positive by auxiliary examination or varicella-zoster virus DNA positive by PCR.
Antiviral drugs such as ganciclovir and famciclovir can be given orally and externally, and interferon can be used in severe cases. At the same time, pay attention to rest, try to avoid secondary bacterial infection after scratching, pain should be given painkillers, such as pregabalin, painkillers and so on.
Greater occipital neuralgia
In the outpatient department of neurology, it is often seen that some patients have pain under the skull near the back of the head near the ear root, which can be improved after massage, especially after improper sitting posture, which should be on guard against the possibility of great occipital neuralgia.
Great occipital neuralgia generally occurs in the posterior part of the scalp, unilateral or bilateral paroxysmal tear-like or acupuncture-like pain in the distribution area of the large occipital, small occipital or the third nerve, sometimes accompanied by loss of sensation or dullness in the affected area, usually accompanied by tenderness of the involved nerve.
Usually, the degree of pain is severe and occurs repeatedly. Paroxysmal pain lasts for several seconds to several minutes, and the patient has a feeling of tear, acupuncture or sharp pain. Benign stimulation of the scalp or hair can show significant hypoesthesia or tenderness.
Great occipital neuralgia needs to be distinguished from occipital radiation pain caused by atlantoaxial joint or upper neck articular process and occipital radiation pain caused by neck muscle tenderness point. local massage physiotherapy and other rehabilitation measures, nerve local anesthetic block can also temporarily relieve the pain.
In this paper, a scientific check was carried out by Man Yuhong, chief physician of the Department of Neurology in the second Hospital of Jilin University.
Contribution to Dayi Xiaowu
This article comes from [people's Daily] and only represents the author's point of view. The national party media information public platform provides information release and dissemination services.
ID:jrtt