A patient with sudden headache, vomiting & unconsciousness, diagnosis is –
**Core Concept**
Sudden onset headache, vomiting, and unconsciousness in a patient can be indicative of a life-threatening condition known as Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH). SAH occurs when there is bleeding into the space surrounding the brain, often due to the rupture of an aneurysm or a vascular malformation.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is caused by the rupture of an aneurysm or a vascular malformation, leading to bleeding into the subarachnoid space. This results in increased intracranial pressure, causing symptoms such as sudden headache, vomiting, and altered consciousness. The blood in the subarachnoid space can also irritate the brain, leading to symptoms such as neck stiffness and photophobia.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is likely incorrect because a migraine, although it can cause severe headache, typically does not result in sudden unconsciousness or vomiting.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because meningitis, while it can cause headache and vomiting, usually presents with fever, neck stiffness, and a more gradual onset of symptoms.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because a cerebral tumor might cause headache and vomiting, but it would typically present with a more gradual onset and other symptoms such as seizures or focal neurological deficits.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key feature of SAH is the presence of blood in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which can be detected by a lumbar puncture. It is essential to perform a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of headache.
**Correct Answer:** C.