Acute headache differential diagnosis tree
An acute headache differential diagnosis tree helps learners order their questions around urgency. Red flags such as sudden onset, neurological change and signs of infection are separated before common primary headache patterns. The final leaves are prompts for assessment, not conclusions. Use the tree to prepare a case presentation or revise clinical reasoning, then adapt it to the patient context, examination and local guidelines. Do not use a diagram alone to decide whether someone needs urgent medical care.
Open it in the AI editor with a prompt pre-filled — keep what works, change what doesn't.
Scenario
A medical student reviews a case of new acute headache.
Key decisions
- Find red flags: Sudden onset and deficits change urgency.
- Check infection signs: Fever and meningism require prompt assessment.
- Recognize pattern: Recurrent features can support a primary headache pattern.
- Avoid closure: Persisting atypical symptoms need further evaluation.
When to reuse this
Educational aid only; real patients require clinical assessment and local emergency guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Why do red flags appear first?
Does migraine exclude other causes?
Can this be used for patients?
Tweak it with chat, export PNG/SVG, or fork it for your own use case.