Headache during airplane travel (“airplane headache”): first case in Greece

The Journal of Headache and Pain
Official Journal of the "European Headache Federation" and of "Lifting The Burden - The Global Campaign against Headache"
Evangelia Kararizou¹ , Evangelos Anagnostou¹, George P. Paraskevas¹, Sofia D. Vassilopoulou¹, Dimitrios Naoumis², Grigoris Kararizos² and Konstantinos Spengos¹

(1)	Department of Neurology, Athens National University, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas.Sofias av., 11528 Athens, Greece

(2)	Neurological Department, 251 Air Force Hospital, Athens, Greece

Evangelia Kararizou Email: ekarariz@med.uoa.gr

Received: 21 February 2011  Accepted: 22 March 2011  Published online: 6 April 2011

Abstract  

Headache related to airplane flights is rare. We describe a 37-year-old female patient with multiple intense, jabbing headache episodes over the last 3 years that occur exclusively during airplane flights. The pain manifests during take-off and landing, and is located always in the left retro-orbital and frontotemporal area. It is occasionally accompanied by dizziness, but no additional symptoms occur. Pain intensity diminishes and disappears after 15–20 min. Apart from occasional dizziness, no other symptoms occur. The patient has a history of tension-type headache and polycystic ovaries. Blood tests and imaging revealed no abnormalities. Here, we present the first case in Greece. We review the current literature on this rare syndrome and discuss on possible pathophysiology and the investigation of possible co-factors such as anxiety and depression.

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