Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Causes
- Bleeding from an AVM
- Cerebral aneurysm
- Head trauma
- Bleeding disorder
- Use of blood thinners
Signs and Symptoms
![Picture](http://www.editmysite.com/editor/images/na.png)
- headache is the most distinctive sign (occurs in 97% of cases)
- “the worst headache of my life”
- acute onset
- generally localized in the nuchal region or behind the orbits
- may rise suddenly during daily rest or with physical strain
- Increased intracranial pressure-causes symptoms such as
- photophobia
- nausea
- vomiting
- loss of consciousness
- cranial nerve deficit
- oculomotor
- ptosis of the eyelid
- diplopia
- diverging squinting
- anisocoria
- partial or general epileptic fit
- stiff neck
- ocular hemorrhage
Differential Diagnosis
- Aseptic Meningitis
- Cluster headache
- encephalitis
- ICH
- ischemic stroke
- migraine headache
- TIA
Diagnosis
- CT scan
- Lumbar puncture
Referral
If SAH is suspected, call 911 immediately