What is a common cause of secondary headaches?

Secondary headaches are those that arise as a symptom of an underlying condition or issue, rather than being a primary headache disorder on their own. A common cause of secondary headaches is infection. This can include conditions such as meningitis, sinusitis, and systemic infections where the body responds to pathogens, leading to inflammation and pain in the head region.

Infections can irritate the meninges (the protective layers surrounding the brain), create increased intracranial pressure, or trigger inflammatory responses that manifest as headaches. Recognizing that an infection could be the underlying cause of a headache is vital for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Other common causes of secondary headaches include conditions like hypertension, trauma, or certain medications, but these were not the focal points of the provided choices. Stress and dehydration, although they can contribute to primary headache disorders or episodic tension-type headaches, do not typically represent secondary causes tied to specific medical conditions like infections do. Similarly, migraine triggers are related to primary headaches rather than being a secondary cause.