APPROACH TO DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

INTRODUCTION: Headache is most predominant devastating condition affecting adult population worldwide, despite of its increased prevalence, the diagnosis and treatment of headache is derelicted which is impeding the catastrophic effect on their quality of life, so early diagnosis and proper management can avert these conditions.OBJECTIVES: To assess the differential diagnosis with prescription pattern of drugs in headache METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study conducted in Mallige Hospital, Bengaluru, India for 6 months from January to June in 2024.Total 311 patients were enrolled, data was enrolled, data was collected from OPD, wards, Neurology department.RESULTS: Among 311 headache cases 187 (60.1%) were having primary headache, 87 (28%) had migraine headache, 9 (2.9%) had tension type headache, 5 (1.6%) had vascular headache, 9 (2.9%) secondary headaches.The most prescribed drug class in the study for the management of migraine headache is beta blockers (26.8%) agents and topiramate (29.9%). CONCLUSION:The current study reveals the headache approaches to diagnose to diagnosis and effective therapeutic management in tertiary care hospital has shown positive outcome.