Laugh induced headache
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Laugh induced headache. This is headache induced by vigorous laughter. It usually affects young males. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Clinical features
- This is headache induced by vigorous laughter
- It usually affects young males
- It is usually bilateral and occipital in location
- It is usually non-throbbing
- It is usually brief: it lasts a few minutes
- It is of mild to severe intensity
Secondary causes
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Proposed pathophysiology
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Treatment
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References
- Ran Y, Liu H, Zhang M, Dong Z, Yu S. Laugh-induced headache: clinical features and literature review. Headache 2017; 57:1498-1506.
- Lotti-Mesa RL, Gamez-Rodriguez O, Rodriguez-Montalvan M. Headache triggered exclusively by laughing, as a presenting symptom of a posterior fossa meningioma. Rev Neurol 2019; 68:443-444.
- Morales-Asín F, Mauri JA, Iñiguez C, Larrode MP, Mostacero E. Long-term evolution of a laughing headache associated with Chiari type 1 malformation. Headache 1998; 38:552-553.
- Boga T, Haas L, Hunn M, Hamilton D. Laugh headaches: a rare form of headache associated with type 1 Arnold-Chiari malformation. Intern Med J 2011; 41:707-708.
- Jiménez Caballero PE, Calle Escobar ML, Portilla Cuenca JC, Casado Naranjo I. Migraine triggered by laughing as a form of presentation of a Chiari type I malformation. Neurologia 2013; 28:446-447.
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