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module menu icon When to refer

When to refer

As headaches are so common, many people will downplay their symptoms, so it’s important to be able to identify when a customer should be referred. Signs that something is not quite right include a headache that:

  • Is worsening and is accompanied by a fever
  • Has a sudden onset and becomes severe very quickly
  • Is triggered by pressure changes such as sneezing, moving from standing to sitting, or exercising
  • Has changed significantly since it began or has been present for a long time
  • Follows an accident or knock to the head
  • Does not respond to OTC analgesics within a day
  • Is in someone with a compromised immune system, such as a patient undergoing cancer treatment
  • Follows exposure to or withdrawal from a substance
  • Is accompanied by vomiting without an obvious cause, a painful red eye, personality changes, lockjaw, impaired consciousness or other signs of neurological or cognitive problems, such as memory loss or numbness, slurred speech or confusion.