[Symptomatic headaches in internal medicine: the classification, physiopathological and diagnostic aspects]

Symptomatic or secondary headache occurs when pain itself is a symptom of disease. It is well known that within the general population the percent frequency of secondary headache is lower than that of primary headache. Moreover, some forms do not seem to evidence particular clinical, diagnostic or physiopathological importance. The Authors investigate here a number of clinical aspects of secondary headache, in particular headache in vascular disease (stroke, hypertension, Horton's arteritis). Particular attention is paid to headache in brain neoplasia due to the interest brought about by the diagnostic problems of this disease. Lastly postural headache and its prevalence in the general population is examined. Various physiopathological aspects of this form (stress, psychosocial events) are evaluated.