Bath-related headache (BRH)
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Bath-related headache (BRH). This is headache that develops on contact with water. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Clinical features
- This is headache that develops on contact with water
- It occurs usually when bathing: especially with warm water
- The onset is acute and thunderclap
- It is a severe generalised and throbbing headache
- Episodes last 30 minutes to 30 hours
- There is associated nausea, vomiting, photophobia or phonophobia
- Non-bath related headaches are frequent
Associated headaches
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Pathology
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Magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) brain: features
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Treatment
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Synonym
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References
- Mak W, Tsang KL, Tsoi TH, et al. Bath-related headache. Cephalalgia 2005; 25:191-198.
- Liao YC, Fuh JL, Lirng JG, et al. Bathing headache: a variant of idiopathic thunderclap headache. Cephalalgia 2003; 33:854-859.
- Silva-Néto RP. A review of 50 cases of bath-related headache: clinical features and possible diagnostic criteria. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2018; 76:346-351.
- Wang SJ, Fuh JL, Wu ZA, Chen SP, Lirng JF. Bath-related thunderclap headache: a study of 21 consecutive patients. Cephalalgia 2008; 28:524-530.
