Quiz Form

Question Date: 22/08/2023

Question: Which of these conditions is not a cause of nocturnal headache in the elderly?

Options:

• Medication overuse headache
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Hypnic headache

Correct Answer: Trigeminal neuralgia

Explaination: Caffeine withdrawal and medication overuse headache may occur at night or on awakening when the effect of drug wears off. Nocturnal hypertension, sleep apnea and intracranial hypertension may cause nocturnal headache. Cluster headache often occurs at 2 am and autonomic features and agitation are seen. Trigeminal neuralgia attacks may occur several times a day but for unknown reasons, does not disturb sleep. Hypnic headache occurs in elderly, with alarm clock like periodicity. It responds to caffeine, melatonin and lithium

Reference: Starling AJ. Unusual Headache Disorders. Continuum 201824(4 Headache)1192-1208