Causes and risk factors
As the name suggest the headache is triggered after consumption of ice cream. The exact modus operendi is not known. However it has been postulated that intake of cold triggers the trigeminal nerve causing vasoconstriction which leads to pain in head. People who are suffering from migraine or have a history of head injury are prone for suffering from such kind of headaches.
Clinical presentation:
Pain in head is the characteristic feature it is triggered after consuming an ice cream. It starts mostly 30 sec to 1 min after. The patient complaints of dull aching pain or severe pain in head. The pain can be felt at the sides (temporal region) or frontal area or at the entire head. The pain can lasts from few minutes to hours. Such headache can hamper the day to day activity.
Investigations:
The symptoms narrated by the patient and the examination out by the doctor is sufficient to diagnoses the case. Usually for such headache no investigation is required, however if the doctor suspects some other underlying pathology then he can advise certain sets of investigation.
Treatment:
Most of the times ice cream headache resolves on its own so no specific treatment are required for this. Pain relieving medications or non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs are advised. Rest or sleep will help to relief the pain. Avoidance of ice cream or cold substance which triggers pain is advised.
