What is Hemicrania?

Answer 1

This is a form of recurrent paroxysmal headache often confined to one side of the head begining in childhood to adult life.Also known as Migraine.
Is believed to be a disturbance of the carotid & vertebrobasilar system.Both intra & extra-cranial vessels participate in this process.Initially there is vasoconstriction which leads to cortical & brain ischeamia resulting in "aura".This is soon followed by vasodilation of the extracranial blood vessels which causes stretching & irritation of the nerve endings in the arterial wall.This may be followed by musculur contraction which maintains & prolongs headache.
Initially before actual headache starts there is a rise of serum5-hydroxytryptamine level which is a neurotransmitter.There is a release of neuropeptidase acting on the neurotransmitter of the trigeminal nerve leading to an inflammatory process.Another possible mechanism is activation of the dorsal raphe nucleus.

Answer 2

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Hemicrania continua is considered a primary headache disorder, meaning that it's not caused by another condition. It's a rare but treatable disorder. According to the International Headache Society's (IHS) International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition, hemicrania continua is a "persistent strictly unilateral headache responsive to indomethacin."

The IHS diagnostic criteria for hemicrania continua is:

Headache for more than 3 months fulfilling criteria B–D
All of the following characteristics:
unilateral pain without side-shift
daily and continuous, without pain-free periods
moderate intensity, but with exacerbations of severe pain
At least one of the following autonomic features occurs during exacerbations and ipsilateral to the side of pain:
conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation
nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhoea
ptosis and/or miosis
Complete response to therapeutic doses of indomethacinNot attributed to another disorder
Hemicrania continua usually presents a mild to moderate daily headache. However, along with the daily, one-sided headache, it also causes exacerbations of more severe headache, which occurs on the same side as the daily headache and is characteristic of Migraine pain. These more severe episodes can last from 45 minutes to days. During these exacerbations, symptoms of other disorders may be present:

Migraine symptoms:
throbbing pain
nausea and/or vomiting
phonophobia
photophobia
Cluster headache symptoms:
conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation
nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhoea
ptosis and/or miosis
The factor that allows hemicrania continua and its exacerbations to be differentiated from Migraine attacks and cluster headaches is that hemicrania continua is completely responsive to indomethacin. Triptans and other abortive medications do not affect hemicrania continua.

The cause of hemicrania continua is unknown. As with Migraine disease and many other headache disorders, there is no definitive diagnostic test for hemicrania continua. Tests such as an MRI may be performed to rule out other causes for the headache. When a patient has the symptoms of hemicrania continua, it's considered "diagnostic" if they respond completely to indomethacin.

Answer 3

Hemicrania continua (HC) is a persistent unilateral headache that responds to indomethacin. It is usually unremitting, but rare cases of remission have been documented. Hemicrania continua is considered a primary headache disorder, meaning that it's not caused by another condition.

Diagnostic criteria, Epidemiology, Cause and diagnosis, Symptoms, Treatment and References on page provided

Answer 4

Hemicrania continua is a rare form of chronic headache marked by continuous pain on one side of the face that varies in severity. Superimposed on the continuous but fluctuating pain are occasional attacks of more severe pain. Symptoms fall into two main categories: autonomic, including runny nose, tearing, eye redness, eye discomfort, sweating, and swollen and drooping eyelids; and migraine-like, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. The disorder has two forms: continuous, with daily headaches, and remitting, where headaches may occur for as long as 6 months and are followed by a pain-free period of weeks to months until they recur. Most patients experience attacks of increased pain three to five times per 24-hour cycle. This disorder is more common in women than in men. Physical exertion and alcohol use may increase the severity of headache pain in some patients. The cause of this disorder is unknown.

Answer 5

A headache affecting one side of the head.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hemicrania

Answer 6

A severe recurring vascular headache