A nondiabetic, non hypeensive adult male develops sudden severe headache with altered sensorium, likely diagnosis is :
**Core Concept**
The sudden severe headache with altered sensorium in a nondiabetic, nonhypertensive adult male is indicative of a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which is a life-threatening condition caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. This condition often results from the rupture of an aneurysm in the brain.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The patient's symptoms are consistent with a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the sudden onset of severe headache and altered sensorium. The absence of diabetes and hypertension makes it less likely that the patient has a background of vascular disease, but aneurysmal rupture can still occur in healthy individuals. The bleeding into the subarachnoid space leads to increased intracranial pressure, causing the patient's altered sensorium.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** Hypoglycemia is unlikely to cause sudden severe headache with altered sensorium, as it typically presents with confusion, tremors, and sweating.
* **Option B:** A seizure can cause altered sensorium, but it would not typically present with a sudden severe headache, and the patient's sensorium would not be as severely altered as in a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
* **Option C:** A stroke, particularly an ischemic stroke, can cause altered sensorium, but it would typically present with focal neurological deficits such as weakness, numbness, or visual field defects, in addition to altered sensorium.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It is essential to remember the "triple H" of SAH: headache, hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), and altered sensorium. This classic triad is often seen in patients with SAH and can aid in diagnosis.
**Correct Answer:** C.