Which headache type is typically unilateral?

Which headache type is typically unilateral?

• A. Female predominant
• B. Intense pain
• C. Radiating pain from back to front
• D. Unilateral headache

Answer: (D)

Lateralization of pain is a key way we describe different headache disorders. The best choice highlights that this kind of headache typically presents on one side. Migraine and cluster headaches are well known for unilateral pain, often localized around the eye or temple in the case of cluster and generally one-sided throbbing in migraine (though the side can vary between attacks). The other options don’t define a headache type: being female-predominant describes who is affected more often, not the presentation; intense pain describes severity rather than the syndrome’s pattern; radiating pain from back to front isn’t the characteristic pattern used to name a headache type. So describing it as unilateral captures the common presentation feature for these primary headaches.

Lateralization of pain is a key way we describe different headache disorders. The best choice highlights that this kind of headache typically presents on one side. Migraine and cluster headaches are well known for unilateral pain, often localized around the eye or temple in the case of cluster and generally one-sided throbbing in migraine (though the side can vary between attacks). The other options don’t define a headache type: being female-predominant describes who is affected more often, not the presentation; intense pain describes severity rather than the syndrome’s pattern; radiating pain from back to front isn’t the characteristic pattern used to name a headache type. So describing it as unilateral captures the common presentation feature for these primary headaches.