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The Classic Migraine
The Classic Migraine {Cephalgia 2004;24 (Suppl 1)} or Migraine with Aura is less prevalent than the Common Migraine. Approximately only 15% of patients exclusively have this type of headache.
Aura is a temporary neurological symptom that can be referred to a focal area of the brain. The most common auras are:
- unilateral visual symptoms, most usually geometric shapes that slowly expand and move
- one sided numbness or abnormal sensation that travels
- one sided weakness
- speech difficulty
The International Headache Society definition for classic migraine or migraine with aura or is:
A. At least 2 attacks fulfilling B.
B. At least 3 of the following 4 characteristics:
1) One or more fully reversible aura symptom(s) indicating focal cerebral cortical and/or brain stem dysfunction.
2) At least one aura symptom develops gradually over more than 4 minutes, or 2 or more symptoms occur in succession.
3) No individual aura symptoms last for more than 60 minutes. If more than one aura symptom is present, each aura symptom cannot last more than 60 minutes.
4) Headaches, which may precede or begin with the aura, must follow within 60 minutes after the aura ends.
C. No other diagnosis to explain the headache symptom(s).
If you do not meet the criteria for common migraine or classic migraines, also read the criteria for probable migraine. If you met the criteria for one of these types of headaches then the migraine section applies equally to you. If you do not meet the criteria for common, classic or probable migraine, visit the headache overview page, which gives a general overview of various types of headaches.