Common Symptoms Table 2–8.

Table 2–8. Clinical features associated with acute headache that warrant urgent or emergent neuroimaging.

Prior to lumbar puncture
Abnormal neurologic examination
Abnormal mental status
Abnormal funduscopic examination (papilledema; loss of venous pulsations)
Meningeal signs

Emergent (conduct prior to leaving office or emergency department)Abnormal neurologic examination
Abnormal mental status
Thunderclap headache

Urgent (scheduled prior to leaving office or emergency department)

HIV-positive patient1
Age > 50 years (normal neurologic examination)