Which feature is more typical of migraine with aura than tension-type headache?

Which feature is more typical of migraine with aura than tension-type headache?

• A. Bilateral pressing pain with no aura
• B. Absence of photophobia
• C. Aura symptoms such as visual disturbance preceding unilateral pulsatile headache
• D. Short duration of pain

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that migraine with aura includes transient neurological symptoms, usually visual, that begin before the headache and are followed by a unilateral pulsatile head pain. This aura-before-headache pattern is the hallmark distinguishing feature from tension-type headache. Aura such as a visual disturbance preceding a unilateral pulsatile headache fits migraine with aura very well, because it captures both the sensory disturbance and the typical later throbbing, one-sided pain. The other descriptions fit tension-type headache better: bilateral pressing or tightness without aura; photophobia can be less prominent or absent in tension-type; and tension-type headaches tend to have shorter or variable duration compared with the longer, often 4–72 hours, duration of a migraine attack with aura.

The key idea is that migraine with aura includes transient neurological symptoms, usually visual, that begin before the headache and are followed by a unilateral pulsatile head pain. This aura-before-headache pattern is the hallmark distinguishing feature from tension-type headache.

Aura such as a visual disturbance preceding a unilateral pulsatile headache fits migraine with aura very well, because it captures both the sensory disturbance and the typical later throbbing, one-sided pain.

The other descriptions fit tension-type headache better: bilateral pressing or tightness without aura; photophobia can be less prominent or absent in tension-type; and tension-type headaches tend to have shorter or variable duration compared with the longer, often 4–72 hours, duration of a migraine attack with aura.