lOMoARcPSD|44886145
KATHLEEN PARKS IHUMAN 26-YEAR-OLD REASON
FOR ENCOUNTER: MORE FREQUENT SEVERE
HEADACHES (LATEST 2025)
Introduction:
This document presents a full iHuman case study of 26-year-old
Kathleen Parks, focusing on her recent increase in frequency and
severity of headaches. It includes her complete patient interview,
symptom description, lifestyle factors, physical examination findings,
and relevant history. The second part contains 64 detailed case-based
questions with correct answers, covering diagnostic reasoning,
headache types, possible triggers, lifestyle modifications,
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, and patient
education strategies. This resource serves as a comprehensive learning
tool for medical and nursing students studying headache assessment
and management, particularly migraines with aura.
, lOMoARcPSD|44886145
Kathleen parks 26 y/o female
5’6’’ 122lbs
Reason for encounter: More frequent severe headaches
How can I help you today? – I’ve been having these really bad headaches over the
last few months. I don’t have one now and haven’t had one in about a week, but I
thought I’d have it checked out anyway.
Do you have any other symptoms or concerns we should discuss? – just the
symptoms that I always have had with these headaches, like nausea and
vomiting
What symptom is the most distressing for you? – well, I can’t work or study when
I have one of my bad headaches, and I usually have to sleep the headache off. Its
really messing with both my school and work responsibilities. And I know this
might sound crazy, but im afraid it might be something really serious, you know.
, lOMoARcPSD|44886145
Like a slowly growing brain tumor
Dose anything make your HA better or worse? - it helps if I lie down in a dark
room and try to sleep it off. And definitely light and noise make the pain worse
Do any food seem to bring the HA on? – well, I seem to get them more when ive
been eating junk food
What does the pain in you head feel like? – throbbing
When more precisely is the pain in your head? – when I get a HA, its pretty
much on the left behind my eye
Does the pain in your head radiate someplace else? Where? – no it doesn’t move
anywhere else
How severe (1-10) is your HA? – oh it’s pretty unbearable. When my HA starts,
it’s a 2 or a 3 and it becomes an 8 or even 10 when it really get going. I just cant do
anything when I have one of my bad HA. They can last up to 15 hours which means
the entire day is shot
No HA at
night Sleep
helps
How quickly dose your HA come on? – once its triggered, it steadily increases. Its
not like a whack of the head or anything.
Is there any pat t ern to when your HA occurs? – they usually happen when I
haven’t been sleeping enough. I have been having trouble with sleep and drinking
more red wine recently given all my stress
Do you have any awareness or warning symptoms that occurs before the HA
begins? – often my vision in both eyes get blurry at the edges before the HA
actually comes on. I can still see; its kind of
, lOMoARcPSD|44886145
like a thin veil. My eyes otherwise okay; its not like they’re swollen or watering or
anything. My vision is
just blurred. But that’s pretty much it
What treatments have you had for you HA?- well, I haven’t really been seen by
a doctor for this. I use acetaminophen but by the time I take it. I can’t keep it
down because I am so nauseated. Same with ibuprofen. Acetaminophen and
ibuprofen used to work but now they really don’t help
Can you tell me about any current or past medical problem you had? – not
much to tell. The usually childhood stuff
Do you experience chest pain discomfort or pressure; pain with exertion or
get ng angry palpitati on ?
– no
Do you have any allergies? – no
Are your immunizat i on up to date? – I think they had to be in order to start grad
school. I also got my covid-19 vaccine series and annual flu shot
Have you had any signif i cant traumat i c injuries or accidents? – no I have not..
never been knocked out or anything like that
Are you taking any prescript i on medicat i ons? – no
Are you taking any OTC or herbal medicat i on? – sometimes Benadryl for sleep
around finalstime. I take acetaminophen or ibuprofen sometimes for some of my
HA
Do you drink caf f einated beverages or eat chocolate? – I like chocolate. Its my only
real vice I guess. Maybe I overdo it a bit
Do you drink alcohol? If so, what do you drink and how many drink per day? –
every now and then I have a glass of redwine at the end of my waitressing shift.
Working partme and being grad student can sometimes be stressful. I usually have
2-3 glasses of wine a week; they maybe about 6 oz each
Do you use any recreat i onal drugs? If so what? – maybe a little marijuana in the
past, that’s all.
Nothing lately
Do you have new HA that you have not experienced previously? – not really. I
have been having HA every 1-2 months for the past 10 years, but the past few
months theyre happening more frequently. Like every 1-2 weeks, which is why I
am here. The pain is also worse
Do you feel confused at t i mes? – like, with my bad HA, not really
Do your HA occur when your caff eineintake change? – I don’t know. I don’t have
that much caff eine on a daily basis
KATHLEEN PARKS IHUMAN 26-YEAR-OLD REASON
FOR ENCOUNTER: MORE FREQUENT SEVERE
HEADACHES (LATEST 2025)
Introduction:
This document presents a full iHuman case study of 26-year-old
Kathleen Parks, focusing on her recent increase in frequency and
severity of headaches. It includes her complete patient interview,
symptom description, lifestyle factors, physical examination findings,
and relevant history. The second part contains 64 detailed case-based
questions with correct answers, covering diagnostic reasoning,
headache types, possible triggers, lifestyle modifications,
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, and patient
education strategies. This resource serves as a comprehensive learning
tool for medical and nursing students studying headache assessment
and management, particularly migraines with aura.
, lOMoARcPSD|44886145
Kathleen parks 26 y/o female
5’6’’ 122lbs
Reason for encounter: More frequent severe headaches
How can I help you today? – I’ve been having these really bad headaches over the
last few months. I don’t have one now and haven’t had one in about a week, but I
thought I’d have it checked out anyway.
Do you have any other symptoms or concerns we should discuss? – just the
symptoms that I always have had with these headaches, like nausea and
vomiting
What symptom is the most distressing for you? – well, I can’t work or study when
I have one of my bad headaches, and I usually have to sleep the headache off. Its
really messing with both my school and work responsibilities. And I know this
might sound crazy, but im afraid it might be something really serious, you know.
, lOMoARcPSD|44886145
Like a slowly growing brain tumor
Dose anything make your HA better or worse? - it helps if I lie down in a dark
room and try to sleep it off. And definitely light and noise make the pain worse
Do any food seem to bring the HA on? – well, I seem to get them more when ive
been eating junk food
What does the pain in you head feel like? – throbbing
When more precisely is the pain in your head? – when I get a HA, its pretty
much on the left behind my eye
Does the pain in your head radiate someplace else? Where? – no it doesn’t move
anywhere else
How severe (1-10) is your HA? – oh it’s pretty unbearable. When my HA starts,
it’s a 2 or a 3 and it becomes an 8 or even 10 when it really get going. I just cant do
anything when I have one of my bad HA. They can last up to 15 hours which means
the entire day is shot
No HA at
night Sleep
helps
How quickly dose your HA come on? – once its triggered, it steadily increases. Its
not like a whack of the head or anything.
Is there any pat t ern to when your HA occurs? – they usually happen when I
haven’t been sleeping enough. I have been having trouble with sleep and drinking
more red wine recently given all my stress
Do you have any awareness or warning symptoms that occurs before the HA
begins? – often my vision in both eyes get blurry at the edges before the HA
actually comes on. I can still see; its kind of
, lOMoARcPSD|44886145
like a thin veil. My eyes otherwise okay; its not like they’re swollen or watering or
anything. My vision is
just blurred. But that’s pretty much it
What treatments have you had for you HA?- well, I haven’t really been seen by
a doctor for this. I use acetaminophen but by the time I take it. I can’t keep it
down because I am so nauseated. Same with ibuprofen. Acetaminophen and
ibuprofen used to work but now they really don’t help
Can you tell me about any current or past medical problem you had? – not
much to tell. The usually childhood stuff
Do you experience chest pain discomfort or pressure; pain with exertion or
get ng angry palpitati on ?
– no
Do you have any allergies? – no
Are your immunizat i on up to date? – I think they had to be in order to start grad
school. I also got my covid-19 vaccine series and annual flu shot
Have you had any signif i cant traumat i c injuries or accidents? – no I have not..
never been knocked out or anything like that
Are you taking any prescript i on medicat i ons? – no
Are you taking any OTC or herbal medicat i on? – sometimes Benadryl for sleep
around finalstime. I take acetaminophen or ibuprofen sometimes for some of my
HA
Do you drink caf f einated beverages or eat chocolate? – I like chocolate. Its my only
real vice I guess. Maybe I overdo it a bit
Do you drink alcohol? If so, what do you drink and how many drink per day? –
every now and then I have a glass of redwine at the end of my waitressing shift.
Working partme and being grad student can sometimes be stressful. I usually have
2-3 glasses of wine a week; they maybe about 6 oz each
Do you use any recreat i onal drugs? If so what? – maybe a little marijuana in the
past, that’s all.
Nothing lately
Do you have new HA that you have not experienced previously? – not really. I
have been having HA every 1-2 months for the past 10 years, but the past few
months theyre happening more frequently. Like every 1-2 weeks, which is why I
am here. The pain is also worse
Do you feel confused at t i mes? – like, with my bad HA, not really
Do your HA occur when your caff eineintake change? – I don’t know. I don’t have
that much caff eine on a daily basis
