Bathing headache: A variant of idiopathic thunderclap headache

Yi Chu Liao, Jong Ling Fuh, Jiing Feng Lirng, Shiang Ru Lu, Zin An Wu, Shuu Jiun Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bathing headache is rarely described in literature. We report four middle-aged Taiwanese women who developed severe throbbing headache with maximum intensity of onset during bathing. Diffuse cerebral vasospasm was demonstrated in one of them. All their headaches resolved spontaneously (n = 1) or after nimodipine treatment (n = 3). Except for one patient with vasospasm in whom reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy and an asymptomatic cerebellar infarction developed, the others recovered without any complications. The clinical profile of bathing headache points to idiopathic thunderclap headache. It may not be as benign as previously reported. Nimodipine might be effective in treatment of this special headache syndrome.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)854-859
Number of pages6
JournalCephalalgia
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2003

Keywords

  • Bathing headache
  • Nimodipine
  • Thunderclap headache
  • Vasospasm

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