Urgent Investigation in Acute Headache
- Full blood count
- Coagulation screen if suspected intracranial haemorrhage
- ESR and C-reactive protein
- Blood glucose
- Creatinine and electrolytes
- Skull X-ray if suspected sinus infection
- Blood culture if suspected bacterial meningitis
- CT scan if suspected stroke or meningitis/encephalitis
- LP if suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage or meningitis/encephalitis, provided there are no contraindications (Chapter 123)
|
ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; LP, lumbar puncture.