Under normal circumstances, it would be easy to brush off your pounding headache as a sign of seasonal allergies or skipping your morning cup of coffee. But now, it’s completely understandable to worry that any new symptom—including a headache—could be a sign of COVID-19.
After all, COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, and it’s not unusual to have a headache with other respiratory viruses like the common cold or influenza. At the same time, headaches are incredibly common and have various triggers behind them.
However, research has found a link between headaches and the novel coronavirus, and doctors are seeing this pop up in patients. “The virus can be associated with a headache, though often it is not the presenting complaint,” says neurologist Dr Amit Sachdev. Here’s what you need to know about the link between headaches and COVID-19.
Is a headache a common symptom of COVID-19?
Most people associate COVID-19 with a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, but headache is on the common symptoms of the virus:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) published in February 2020, the earlier days of the pandemic, analysed nearly 56,000 cases of COVID-19 in China, and found that 13.6% of those patients had a headache. That’s well below those who had a fever (87.9%), dry cough (67.7%), and fatigue (38.1%), but about on par with people who experienced a sore throat (13.9%) and muscle aches and pains (14.8%).
Why does COVID-19 sometimes cause headaches?
It’s not uncommon for people to get a headache when they get a respiratory infection, says infectious disease expert Dr Amesh Adalja. “It likely is a result of the systemic inflammation occurring in the body,” he says.
When you have a viral infection, your body mounts an immune response to fight it, explains infectious disease specialist Dr William Schaffner. Your immune cells then release proteins known as cytokines that can cause inflammation and a fever, which can also lead to a headache, he says. Couple that with factors like not sleeping well, not eating enough, and not drinking enough water when you’re sick, and you can end up with a throbbing head.
Another theory: The coronavirus might actually enter the fluid around the brain, which could potentially trigger a headache, Dr Sachdev says. That said, there’s a lot researchers don’t know about the virus right now and more evidence is needed.
While there’s not a lot of information about what a coronavirus-induced headache is like, Dr Schaffner says that most viruses tend to cause headaches that get worse in the evening, and that the headaches are often tied to a fever.
Could a headache be the only sign of COVID-19?
It’s possible, but it’s more likely that you’ll have other symptoms along with your headache, like a fever and cough, Dr Schaffner says.
Still, if you have a persistent headache that seemingly came out of nowhere and you’re also feeling kind of lousy, it’s not something to brush off. “If a person develops any symptom typically associated with a viral illness, then there needs to be a strong suspicion for COVID-19,” says Dr Richard Watkins, an infectious disease specialist.
The only way to know for sure, though, is to get tested for COVID-19.
What can you do to relieve your headache right now?
You may have heard a while ago about claims that taking ibuprofen when you have COVID-19 could make things worse. But the WHO later released the findings of a systematic report that analysed the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, on people who had viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19. The report confirmed that there was “no evidence” that NSAIDs made the infection worse.
Dr Adalja says the usual headache remedies should help when it comes to treating head pain linked to COVID-19. “Medication like aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen is what can be used to treat it,” he says. COVID-19 headaches “usually last several hours,” Dr Adalja says, but OTC pain medications should help shorten that timeframe.
When should you call your doctor about a headache?
“There are some indications that COVID-19 might be related to more serious neurological conditions, such as blood clotting, stroke, or infections of the brain,” says neurologist Dr Brian Gerhardstein, PhD. “These could also lead to symptoms such as headaches, so you should seek medical attention for any concerning or worsening headaches or other medical or neurological symptoms.”
That means if you ever think your symptoms point to COVID-19, don’t hesitate to call your doctor, Dr Watkins says. If your headache doesn’t seem to be getting better or comes on with other symptoms, like a fever or cough, he or she should be able to determine if you qualify for a COVID-19 test or give you guidance on how recover at home if your illness is considered mild.
Regardless of whether you have COVID-19, Dr Adalja says you should “seek immediate attention” if your headache is paired with slurred speech or blurry vision. It could be due to COVID-19 or something else entirely.
This article is accurate as of press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the novel coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the Department of Health, WHO, and your state health department to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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