National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Hemicrania continua


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Hemicrania continua (HC) is a type of primary headache disorder, which means the headache is not caused by another medical condition. Symptoms of HC include constant mild to moderate pain on one side of the head (unilateral) with periods of more intense, severe, migraine-like pain (exacerbations). These severe pain periods can last from 20 minutes to days. The frequency of exacerbations also varies greatly. The headache stays on the same side of the head and usually without pain free periods. HC is more common in women and most often starts in adulthood, but may begin anywhere from 5 to 67 years of age.[1][2][3][4]

Diagnosis of hemicrania continua (HC) is made by ruling out other possible causes of the pain and by clinical symptoms. During the periods of severe pain, at least one of the following symptoms must be present on same side of the body as the headache: watering or red eyes (conjunctival injection), congested or runny nose, or drooping eyelid. In addition, the headache pain must respond to treatment with indomethacin. The cause of HC is unknown. Other treatments for those who cannot tolerate long term indomethacin therapy are being studied.[1][2][3][4]
Last updated: 9/7/2016

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In-Depth Information

  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hemicrania continua. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Tepper D. Hemicrania Continua. Headache. June 2015; 55(6):919-920. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26084243.
  2. Garza I and Schwedt TJ. Diagnosis and management of chronic daily headache. Semin Neurol. April 2010; 30(2):154-166. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/723842_6.
  3. Krusz JK (Reviewer). Hemicrania Continua. American Migraine Foundation. March 10 2010; https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/living-with-migraines/types-of-headachemigraine/hemicrania-continua/.
  4. Hemicrania continua. The Migraine Trust. https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/types-of-migraine/other-headache-disorders/hemicrania-continua/. Accessed 9/7/2016.