Dictionary

head bones See bones of the head.

head lice Pediculus humanus capitis, parasitic insects found on the human scalp. They lay eggs on the hair shaft close to the root, and hatched lice stay mostly on the scalp. Head lice infection is very common and easily acquired by coming in close contact with someone who has head lice, infested clothing, or infested…

headache A pain in the head, with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck. Headache has many causes. All headaches are classified as primary or secondary headaches. Primary headaches are not associated with other diseases. Examples of primary headaches are migraine…

headache, cervicogenic A headache that has its origins in the muscles, tendons, and nerves of the neck. It may be a simple tension headache, or it may result from damage to neck joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons, or the trigeminal nerve. Treatment for chronic cervicogenic headaches includes massage, physical therapy, analgesic medication, and in some extreme…

headache, febrile A headache associated with fever. Because febrile headache can sometimes indicate serious conditions such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), a person who is suffering from a febrile headache should immediately seek medical attention.

headache, migraine See migraine headache.

headache, muscle tension See headache, tension.

headache, rebound A headache experienced by someone who has taken pain relievers for migraines or other health conditions and has built up a tolerance for these medications. Often a rebound headache occurs right after the medication wears off. Treatment involves using the medication less frequently or switching to a different pain reliever.

headache, sinus A headache caused by pressure within the sinus cavities of the head, usually in connection with sinus infection. The sufferer has pain and tenderness in the sinus area, discharge from the nose, and sometimes a swollen face. Treatment involves treating the underlying condition, which is often an allergy, and using nasal vasoconstrictors and…

headache, stress See headache, tension.

headache, tension A headache previously thought to be caused by contraction of the muscles in the back of the neck, on the scalp, and sometimes in the jaw. The term tension-type headache is now preferred, reflecting the fact that research has shown that these headaches may not be related to muscle tension. Although the cause…

headache, thunderclap A sudden and excruciatingly painful headache. Some physicians feel that in the absence of a known headache disorder, such as migraines, a thunderclap headache may sometimes signal a ruptured aneurysm in the brain. A person who experiences this type of headache should immediately seek medical attention.