Cluster headache is a headache with typical features and is characterized by its occurrence in certain periods. Its frequency increases especially during seasonal transitions. It is known that he chooses different temporal periods from patient to patient.
The character of the pain is typical and quite severe. Sometimes it is even seen that it awakens from sleep. The pain is almost always unilateral and localized in the anterior region of the head. Other findings accompanying severe unilateral pain are usually unilateral: tearing, redness of the eye, runny nose, sweating on the face, swelling around the affected eye, and drooping eyelid.
The duration of the pain is at least 15 minutes, at most 3 hours, with an average of 45-90 minutes. Although there are 1-2 attacks per day, the number of attacks can be up to 8 in some patients.
Treatment in cluster headache can be listed as avoiding the triggering factors, acute attack treatment, short and long-term prophylactic treatment and surgical treatment.
Cluster headache patients should reduce and stop alcohol and cigarette consumption, especially during cluster periods; moving away from closed, stuffy places where smoking; Preferring fresh air and cool places and avoiding daytime naps are simple but important precautions they can take.
Oxygen and analgesic drugs are used in the treatment of attacks. It is necessary to give prophylactic treatment to prevent attacks from coming. In prophylaxis treatment, corticosteroids, ergotamine preparations, calcium channel blockers, some antiepileptics, melatonin can be used. Apart from these, GON blockade, surgical treatments (if the pain still continues after all drug treatments) and neuromodulation methods are used in the treatment.
