Hemicrania continua is a persistent one-sided (unilateral) headache that is present for over three months (with some fluctuation in intensity). It’s accompanied by redness and tearing of the eye, drooping or swollen eyelids, stuffy nose (nasal congestion), sweating, or a sense of restlessness and agitation. The symptoms affecting the eye and sinuses occur on the same side of the head as the headache. In some cases, the pain can be aggravated by movement. Similar to paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continua also responds to indomethacin.
This headache type belongs to a category of primary headache disorders called ‘trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs)‘.
Further information
Other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs):