Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a migraine is based on signs and symptoms. Imaging test are occasionally performed to exclude other causes of headaches. It is believed that a substantial number of people with the condition have not been diagnosed.
The diagnosis of migraine without aura, according to the International Headache Society, can be made according to the following criteria, the "5, 4, 3, 2, 1 criteria":
- Five or more attacks — for migraine with aura, two attacks are sufficient for diagnosis.
- Four hours to three days in duration
- Two or more of the following:
- Unilateral (affecting half the head);
- Pulsating;
- "Moderate or severe pain intensity";
- "Aggravation by or causing avoidance of routine physical activity"
- One or more of the following:
- Nausea and/or vomiting;
- Sensitivity to both light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia)
If someone experiences two of the following: photophobia, nausea, or inability to work / study for a day the diagnosis is more likely. In those with four out of five of the following: pulsating headache, duration of 4–72 hours, pain on one side of the head, nausea, or symptoms that interfere with the person's life, the probability that this is a migraine is 92%. In those with less than three of these symptoms the probability is 17%.
Read more about this topic: Migraine