Back headaches with influenza | Back headaches

Back headaches with influenza

Unlike a flu-like infection or a cold, influenza is caused by the influenza viruses. Many different symptoms occur in more or less patients, but headaches are one of the most common signs. Approximately 60% of all patients who have ever suffered from influenza claim to have had headaches.

It is a classic general symptom, which in most cases begins before specific symptoms (such as coughing or rhinitis). The “flu headache” can be a holistic headache, a front or back headache, is usually described as pressing or piercing and can be of varying intensity. In influenza, too, the process by which the headache occurs takes place in the airways.

The inflammation of the nose, paranasal sinus and throat produces increased secretion, which cannot flow off due to the swelling and becomes congested. The resulting increase in pressure irritates the local nerves and causes headaches. Likewise, various substances that are released when the immune system is activated to defend against the viruses can lead to corresponding headaches. Back headaches in the context of influenza are therefore a standard symptom, which is usually harmless. However, if the headaches are unbearable, nausea or fainting, or if the person affected no longer responds to speech, a doctor should be consulted urgently so that meningitis can be ruled out.

Pulsating occipital pain

Pulsating occipital pain indicates a vascular cause. Since the pain occurs with the pulse beat, it is reasonable to assume that a vessel causes the pain at the moment of its strongest filling (during the pulse beat). For example, there could be an aneurysm, a bulging vessel that irritates a nearby nerve each time it fills up.

On the other hand, a nerve located close to a pulsating vessel may become inflamed. This may lead to neuritis (inflammation of the nerve) and in the course of time to neuralgia (nerve pain). An example of this is occipital neuralgia, which preferably causes occipital pain and can be triggered in this way.

The pain of migraine is also described as pulsating. The blood vessels in the head become inflamed due to faulty nerve stimulation. Due to the inflammation, the vessels dilate and the headache sets in. Pulsating headaches are usually worse when the head is moved downwards than when bending down, for example.