Headache in Bariatric Patient: Is It Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?

Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Headache is a common symptom in persons with obesity; however, most are considered to be related to hypertension, visual impairment, migraine, etc. and are not given due importance in bariatric clinics. Rare condition like idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) usually presenting with headache may have debilitating consequences, if not suspected. IIH is a condition of unknown etiology characterized by persistently high intracranial pressure, normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition, normal brain parenchyma without any ventriculomegaly or brain lesion, and significant morbidity like visual loss. Obesity is a known risk factor for IIH, and weight loss has been demonstrated to be beneficial in its management. We present a case of a young morbidly obese lady with persistent headache who was diagnosed to have IIH and eventually underwent bariatric surgery as a part of its management.