NR509 Week 6 Case: Kathleen Parks

K.P. an undergraduate student aged 26 visited the clinic because her periodic head pain had increased during the last few months. Her headache symptoms had progressively worsened during the past months yet she did not currently have one when visiting the clinic. The headache area focuses on the left side of her head directly behind her eye and produces throbbing sensations. The level of pain reaches 8 or 10 out of 10 during peak intensity which hinders her daily chores. Before her headaches could be managed by Tylenol or ibuprofen their effectiveness has decreased. She currently chooses to find relief by spending time in a peaceful dark environment. The headaches also trigger nausea and vomiting together with photophobia. Workload and academic responsibilities together with drinking 2-3 glasses of red wine make up her sources of stress. She has observed that her mother also suffers from the same headache symptoms.

Based on the information you obtained from your H&P, select the components that should be included on your key findings list for purposes of formulating a list of differential diagnoses for this patient.

Select no more than 10 items from the list.

• ☐ Lack of trauma
• ☐ 10-year history of stable-character headaches with recent increase in headache frequency
• ☐ Neck pain
• ☐ Left eye redness and tearing
• ☐ Otalgia
• ☐ Preceding bilateral visual scintillating scotomas
• ☐ Pharyngitis
• ☐ Temperature of 102 F
• ☐ Abdominal pain
• ☐ Nausea and vomiting with headache episodes
• ☐ Hematemesis
• ☐ Hematochezia
• ☐ Hematuria
• ☐ Photophobia/phonophobia with headache episodes
• ☐ Right knee pain
• ☐ Cough………………………………………..purchase this week’s simulation at $20 only