ABSTRACT
In acute headache, the child’s temperature and conscious level should be recorded, and the child should be examined for neck stiffness. An assessment should be made of the child’s growth, including head circumference. Examination of the skin may reveal stigmata of the neurocutaneous syndromes, which are associated with intracranial neoplasms. A full neurological examination should be performed, with particular attention to gait, fundoscopy, visual fields and visual acuity. Blood pressure should be measured in all cases. The cranium should be auscultated for bruits, occasionally heard with arteriovenous malformations. There may be evidence of localized pathology in the head and neck, e.g. teeth, sinuses.
