Abstract

Most of headache is primary headache and optimal diagnosis needs proper and time consuming history taking. Information attained by thorough history taking and additional physical and neurological examination should be fit to the diagnostic criteria of each headache disorders. Laboratory tests or imaging studies are usually necessary in the patients with atypical symptoms or neurologic abnormalities, and intractable or progressive headache in spite of optimal treatment. After the long debate of headache classification, currently using IHS(international headache society) classification made correct diagnosis and sharing information possible in the field of headache. As headache is one of the common illnesses that significantly impair quality of life in human, even primary physician should be acquainted with this classification and diagnostic criteria.