Description
Formerly called basilar migraine, Migraine with brainstem aura is similar to Migraine with aura except that the aura is of a different quality.
Diagnostic criteria
One or more aura symptoms 5-60 minutes prior to the onset of headache.
- Visual – wavy lines, blind spots, or flashing lights in the visual field
- Sensory – tingling or numbness of skin
- Aphasia – inability to correctly form words or word loss
Plus, at least two of the following symptoms:
- Dysarthria – slurred speech
- Vertigo – feeling tha the room is spinning
- Tinnitus – ringing, roaring, hissing, buzzing in the ears
- Hypacusis – partial hearing loss
- Diplopia – double vision
- Ataxia – lack of muscle coordination, gait abnormality
- Decreased level of consciouness
With at least two of these characteristics:
- at least one aura spreads over 5 minutes and/or two or more different auras occur in succession.
- Each aura lasts 5-60 minutes.
- At least one aura occurs on only one side of the body.
- Headache accompanies or follows aura symptoms within 60 minutes
- The headache is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased light sensitivity, and/or sound sensitivity.
Source
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) (2013). The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). Cephalalgia 2013; 33: 9-807.