Differential diagnosis of short lasting headaches
| Feature | Cluster headache | Paroxysmal hemicrania | SUNCT* | Idiopathic stabbing headache | Trigeminal neuralgia | Hypnic headache |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Short lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing. | ||||||
| †Cranial autonomic activation may be seen in first division trigeminal neuralgia. | ||||||
| Sex (male:female) | 5:1 | 1:2 | 2:1 | F>M | F>M | 5:3 |
| Pain | ||||||
| Type | Boring | Boring | Stabbing | Stabbing | Stabbing | Throbbing |
| Severity | Very severe | Very severe | Severe | Severe | Very severe | Moderate |
| Location | Orbital | Orbital | Orbital | Any | V2/V3>V1 | Generalised |
| Duration | 15–180 mins | 2–45 mins | 15–120 s | <30 s | <1 s | 15–30 mins |
| Frequency | 1–8/day | 1–40/day | 1/day–30/hour | Any | Any | 1–3/night |
| Autonomic | + | + | + | – | –† | – |
| Trigger | Alcohol, nitrates | Mechanical | Cutaneous | None | Cutaneous | Sleep |
| Indomethacin | ? | + | – | + | – | + |