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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
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Changes in Migraine Headaches Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case Series
Neil Shah1, Deep Patel1, Amber Sousa2
1Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, USA.
Cureus
|May 22, 2025
Summary
COVID-19 infection often worsened migraine headaches, increasing frequency and intensity. Patients experienced altered pain patterns and reduced medication effectiveness post-infection, indicating a significant impact on migraine sufferers.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with various neurological complications.
- Changes in migraine headache patterns have been anecdotally reported during the pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and describe changes in migraine headaches following COVID-19 infection.
- To discuss potential mechanisms underlying these migraine alterations.
- To report on the efficacy of existing migraine treatments post-COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A case series involving seven patients with a history of migraine disorder and prior COVID-19 infection.
- Retrospective analysis of symptom changes, pain characteristics, and medication efficacy.
Main Results:
- Most subjects experienced increased migraine frequency and intensity shortly after COVID-19 infection.
- A shift from localized to diffuse headache pain was noted in several patients.
- Neuropsychiatric symptoms like brain fog and aphasia were observed; medication efficacy decreased for six subjects.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 infection appears to significantly alter migraine characteristics and reduce treatment efficacy in susceptible individuals.
- The pathophysiology remains unclear, but observed changes warrant further investigation.
- Patients with pre-existing migraines may require adjusted treatment strategies following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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