Secondary Stabbing Headache Associated with COVID-19: a Case Report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection are increasingly recognized, though specific headache types as sequelae are less common.
• Stabbing or ice-pick cephalalgia is a rare reported symptom of COVID-19, affecting less than 10% of cases.
• Recurrent stabbing headaches post-COVID-19 vaccination have not been previously documented in medical literature.

Observation:

• A 55-year-old male experienced recurrent, short-lasting, unilateral stabbing headaches.
• The headaches began approximately four months after the acute phase of COVID-19.
• The cephalalgia recurred twice, with the first recurrence 12 days after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccine.

Findings:

• This case presents an unusual pattern of ice-pick cephalalgia with recurrent periodicity lasting for 10 months.
• The temporal association suggests a potential link between COVID-19 infection, vaccination, and the development of this specific headache type.
• The semiological characteristics contribute to understanding the spectrum of COVID-19-related neurological sequelae.

Implications:

• This case highlights the need for further research into the long-term neurological effects of COVID-19 and its vaccination.
• Clinicians should consider persistent stabbing headaches as a possible sequela in patients with a history of COVID-19.
• Understanding rare headache presentations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of post-COVID-19 conditions.