Etymed
cephalalgia
Definition
Pain in the head; headache
Clinical context
A 28-year-old woman presents to the emergency department complaining of severe, throbbing head pain that started abruptly this morning. She describes the pain as a constant ache that worsens with movement and is accompanied by nausea and photophobia. The headache has persisted for 6 hours despite over-the-counter analgesics. On examination, she appears uncomfortable and holds her head with her hands, indicating significant cephalalgia that requires further neurological evaluation.
Mnemonic
Cephalalgia = Crippling Head Ache