Diseases of the head: names and symptoms

Headache is the symptom that is known to every person. This sign accompanies many pathological conditions. One example is an intoxication syndrome, in which a headache is observed. Proceeding from this, this symptom can accompany any inflammatory pathology. However, there are certain headaches. There are many of them. These ailments are pathological processes occurring in this part of the body. Among such diseases, there are defeats of the brain and its membranes, vessels, problems with the face skin, hair. In addition, this group of pathologies can be attributed to mental disorders.

Description of diseases of the head

Diseases of the human head - this is a vast group of pathologies, which includes many ailments. Most often they are associated with CNS damage. Nevertheless, the pathologies of this area include dermatological diseases, oncological processes, traumas, anomalies of development. As you know, there are many reasons for the appearance of pain. However, not all pathological conditions of the head are accompanied by this symptom. In some cases, manifestations of such diseases include neurological and psychological disorders. Sometimes the development of pathology is indicated by such symptoms as a decrease in cognitive functions, sleep disturbance. Headaches are equally common in both children and adults. Sexual accessory also does not matter with these pathologies. In some cases, the diseases are congenital and are found already in the period of the newborn. Examples are hydrocephalus, intrauterine growth retardation, developmental abnormalities. Sometimes diseases are diagnosed during early childhood. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the pathology was not genetically determined (Down syndrome, cerebral palsy). Adult headaches predominate in the adult population. Most often, they develop from the defeat of blood vessels, injuries, neoplasms. Some pathologies are hereditary, and the cause of their occurrence is unknown. Despite the genetic conditionality, they can manifest at any age. Such ailments include most mental disorders (schizophrenia, multiple personality syndrome), and some neurological pathologies.

Causes of head disease

The cause of head disease depends on which pathology the patient has. Distinguish the following adverse factors contributing to the development of ailments:

1. Infectious agents. In most cases, microorganisms cause inflammatory diseases. These include the pathology of the brain and its membranes. In addition, bacterial and viral particles are the cause of skin diseases.
2. Fungal infection of the hair follicles.
3. Hereditary predisposition. Many head disorders are genetically determined. This is especially true of mental pathologies. For example, a disease such as schizophrenia is often transmitted by inheritance or observed in close relatives. Now it is known, with some ailments, the genetic code changes. Such pathologies include Alzheimer's, Peak, Parkinson's, Huntington's chorea, etc.
4. Bad habits.
5. Atherosclerosis of the arteries and hypertension.
6. Obesity.
7. Oncological processes in the brain.
8. Benign neoplasm.
9. Bites of tropical insects, encephalitic tick.
10. Specific pathologies: syphilis, AIDS.
11. Vasculitis.
12. Head injuries.

In some cases, the cause of the disease can not be established. Congenital pathologies develop due to fetal ischemia during pregnancy, infectious lesions in the mother, bad habits, chemical and ionizing effects.

Classification of head diseases

Some patients ask the question: "What is the name of the disease, when does the headache?" As mentioned above, a lot of pathologies can lead to this symptom. Consider those that are associated with diseases of the head region:

1. Meningitis. This group of pathologies arises from the inflammation of the meninges. The most dangerous is bacterial (purulent) meningitis. Regardless of the etiologic factor, when the membranes of the brain are inflamed, a severe headache is observed.
2. Encephalitis. This group of diseases is characterized by the fact that the inflammatory process covers the very substance of the brain. The main sign of encephalitis is the emergence of severe neurological symptoms.
3. One of the pathologies accompanied by pain is migraine. The cause of this ailment has not yet been clarified.
4. Acute and chronic diseases of the vessels of the head. This group of diseases is one of the most common neurological pathologies. Especially dangerous are thrombosis and bleeding from the cerebral vessels (stroke), since acute ischemia often leads to disability and mortality of the population.
5. Degenerative pathologies of the nervous system. In some cases, you can see this picture: the patient is shaking his head. What kind of disease is characterized by this symptom? Most often degenerative pathologies develop in the elderly. To a greater extent, they are manifested by motor and neuropsychic disorders. An example is Parkinson's disease, in which there is a tremor of hands and head, memory impairment, gait change.
6. Atrophic pathology of the central nervous system. Characterized by a gradual decrease in the number of brain cells. Examples include Pick and Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea. These pathologies are characterized by progressive memory impairment, movement disorder.
7. Tumors of the central nervous system. Often accompanied by pain in a particular area of the head.
8. Mental pathology.
9. The defeat of the skin and its appendages.

All these types of head diseases have a different etiology and development mechanism. Nevertheless, many of them are accompanied by similar symptoms. With all pathologies, the structure of the nervous tissue is damaged. As a result, there is a headache and signs of involvement in a particular area of the central nervous system. Also, a separate group can be distinguished structural changes in the brain in tertiary syphilis, AIDS.

Vascular diseases of the head

Vascular pathologies of the head are a group of diseases characterized by impaired blood supply to the brain substance. They can occur at any age, but are more common in the elderly. Distinguish between acute and chronic vascular disorders. The first include strokes. Acute ischemic impairment of cerebral circulation is a disease that arises from the obstruction of the lumen of the vessel by a thrombus or embolus. In most cases this type of stroke has a more favorable prognosis. The cause of development of ischemic ONMK can be atherosclerotic lesions of the cerebral arteries, cardiovascular and oncological pathologies, hematopoietic system diseases, prolonged immobilization (stay in one body position). Hemorrhagic stroke is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate surgical treatment. The etiological factors of this disease are complicated hypertensive crisis, malformation and aneurysm of blood vessels. Chronic pathologies include discirculatory encephalopathy. Often DEP occurs in the elderly. The main cause of encephalopathy is the gradual narrowing of the lumen of the cerebral vessels due to atherosclerosis. Also, the osteochondrosis of the cervical department is considered to be an etiological factor.

Atrophic diseases of the brain

Atrophic pathologies are conditions in which the activity of the brain decreases due to the rupture of connections between neurons. The causes of this phenomenon have not yet been fully elucidated. It is believed that atrophic pathologies result in changes that occur at the gene level. Therefore, such ailments are often observed in members of the same family. One of the most striking examples of brain atrophy is Alzheimer's disease. Often this memory impairment can be seen in various films. With such a pathology, a person gradually loses orientation in his own personality. The patient does not remember the events that occurred recently in his life. Nevertheless, in his memory are long years gone by. Thus, there is a progressive violation of the patient's personality. A similar disease is considered to be Pick's disease. Differences between these pathologies in maintaining the ability to write, speech. Another atrophic disease is Huntington's chorea. This pathology is characterized by a disorder of movements, that is, an inability to control its activity. Later, other signs of head disease join in. Among them, mental abnormalities, memory impairment, aggressive behavior, etc. The first signs of ailment are noted in middle age.

Another pathology characterized by hyperkinesias is Parkinson's disease. With such a disease, the extrapyramidal system of the brain is affected. This pathology is characterized by tremor of the extremities, changes in muscle tone, inability to stop the movements of one's own body. One of the brightest symptoms is that the person is shaking his head. "What kind of illness and how to cope with it?" - often, the relatives of the patient are interested. Unfortunately, etiologic therapy against this pathology has not been developed, since the exact cause of its development is unknown. Patients with atrophic and degenerative disorders of the nervous system require constant care and support of close people.

Diseases of the scalp on the head

In addition to diseases of the head itself, the pathologies of this group include dermatological pathologies. Among them - the defeat of the skin and its appendages, in particular, the hairline. Especially this issue worries the female half of the population. Indeed, often such violations as brittle and hair loss, loss of shine and silky. To fix this, women make different masks, use special shampoos. Nevertheless, the disease of hair on the head is also found in men. In these cases, there is often a symptom such as alopecia. This disease is characterized by abnormal hair loss, leading to alopecia. Diffuse and focal (nesting) alopecia are distinguished. Alopecia can develop not only in men, but also among the female population. The exact causes of this symptom are not known, it is believed that it occurs when combined effects of several damaging factors. Most often, diffuse alopecia develops with chronic anemia, adrenal diseases. Focal alopecia can be caused by a fungal lesion. In most cases, it develops after contact with infected domestic animals (cats). Also, the cause of alopecia are alopecia pathologies of the thyroid gland, chronic stress, helminthic invasion, etc.

Diseases of the head: symptoms of ailments

Given that there are a lot of head disorders, their symptoms can be different. Especially it concerns the pathologies of the central nervous system. The clinical picture depends on the type of head disease. Symptoms of ailments:

1. Neurological disorders. They are found in inflammatory, oncological, vascular, degenerative and atrophic processes. Symptoms of neurological disorders depend on the localization of the pathological focus. When the right side of the brain is damaged, disturbances are noted in the left extremities (and vice versa).
2. Headache. It is observed in inflammatory processes (encephalitis, meningitis), neoplasms, impaired cerebral circulation. The most pronounced headache arises from migraine.
3. Cognitive disorders (decreased memory, assiduity, sleep disturbance). It is observed at the initial stages of degenerative and dystrophic pathologies, with discirculatory encephalopathy.
4. Decreased intelligence. There is at the last stage of DEP (senile dementia). In some cases, mental retardation is congenital and develops due to chromosomal abnormalities.
5. Mental disorders.
6. Convulsive syndrome.

Symptoms of dermatological diseases include skin peeling, the appearance of rashes, itching, alopecia.

Diagnosis of head pathologies

To find out the cause of the headache, it is necessary to conduct a series of studies. Among them, the main thing is a neurological examination. Instrumental diagnostics is also conducted. To her carry such researches, as УЗДГ vessels of a head and a neck, EEG, EchoEG. When suspected of degenerative, oncological and atrophic processes, magnetic resonance imaging is performed.

Diseases of the head: treatment of pathologies

The choice of method of treatment depends on the pathology. In inflammatory diseases, antibacterial therapy is prescribed. To the drugs of choice include a solution of "Penicillin", "Ceftriaxone", "Erythromycin". With the purpose of improving blood circulation, the medications Cerebrolysin and Piracetam are prescribed. Treatment of mental illnesses is carried out in a special medical institution. As symptomatic therapy, analgesics are used. If you are prone to thrombosis, it is recommended that you take the daily Aspirin medication. With acute disorders of blood circulation, aneurysms and tumors, surgical intervention is necessary.

Prevention of head disease

Prevention of head disease involves the following recommendations:

1. Do not go without a headdress at low temperatures.
2. Carry out correction of lipid metabolism in patients with atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome.
3. Visit a neurologist if you suspect a headache.