Background: The "other primary headaches" encompasses a group of uncommon but distinct headache disorders. The coexistence of their subforms such as primary sexual and exercise headache is not a new phenomenon, but in association with cough headache is rather uncommon. Report of cases: We report three cases with a rare coexistence of primary cough, exercise and associated with sexual activity headache. Indomethacin was effective in all patients. The leading pathophysiological explanation involves a rapid rise in intra-abdominal pressure exertional factors or an inappropriate reaction in the cerebral vasculature.
Conclusions: Further studies are needed to confirm a common pathogenic mechanism in these patients. Τhe coexistence of these headaches needs to be taken into account in the final classification that is expected to be available in 2016. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 369-371.
Keywords: ICHD-3 beta criteria; New International Headache Classification; Other primary headaches; cough headache; exercise headache; headache associated with sexual activity.