COVID-19 headaches often feel like a clamp or band pressing on the sides of the head. However, they may also occur in other areas of the head. Symptoms and treatments may vary.

People with COVID-19 can have several neurologic symptoms, which can affect their brains. These symptoms may include headaches, which may last for some time after they recover from the condition.

Several scientific studies have investigated COVID-19 headaches. They found that they often cause intense pain similar to tension headaches at the sides of the head.

People may also have several other COVID-19 symptoms, which can vary and may be mild or severe. Healthcare professionals may be able to treat a COVID-19 headache with several different methods, though some may need treatment in a healthcare facility.

This article discusses where a COVID-19 headache is located, what it feels like, and other COVID-19 symptoms.

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Most headaches from COVID-19 are typically bilateral and frontal, meaning people feel them at the sides and front of the head.

Several scientific studies have investigated COVID-19 headaches.

One 2020 study interviewed 172 people with a headache due to COVID-19.

They found that in about half of cases, a COVID-19 headache is usually diffuse and bilateral. This means it can occur spread out and on both sides of the head. However, they found that in some cases, it can instead be:

  • at the front of the head
  • at the back of the head, with pain behind the eyes.

Other studies investigated COVID-19 headaches, including a 2023 Italian study and a 2021 Spanish study. These studies found that people often feel headaches from COVID-19 at the sides or front of their heads.

Headaches from COVID-19 often feel pressing and severe, like a tension headache. They can be persistent rather than coming and going.

In the earlier 2023 study, people described their headaches as pulsating or tightening, intense, and lasting for some time. Over half of people described them as feeling like a tension-type headache.

These headaches can feel like:

  • dull pain
  • tightness
  • pressure that may feel like a clamp or a band pushing on a person’s head

In the 2020 study mentioned above, people described them as severe, and:

  • pressing in 41% of cases
  • exploding in 26% of cases
  • throbbing or dull in about 16% of cases each

Headache and migraine resources

To discover more evidence-based information and resources for headaches and migraine, visit our dedicated hub.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may range from mild to severe and can include:

  • fever or chills
  • coughing
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • sore throat
  • congestion, or runny nose
  • a new loss of taste or smell
  • fatigue
  • muscle or body aches

Headaches may start at the same time as COVID-19. The 2020 study earlier found that people may have a COVID-19 headache with:

  • fever
  • conjunctival injection, or red eyes
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • photophobia, or being very sensitive to light
  • phonophobia, or being very sensitive to sound

The study also found people tended to feel more intense headaches if they:

COVID-19 headaches with dehydration also tended to last longer.

Read more about COVID-19 symptoms.

If a person has COVID-19 or may have COVID-19 symptoms, they should stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick.

They should seek prompt medical advice for testing and treatment if they have risk factors for severe illness. These risk factors include:

  • being an older adult
  • being a young child
  • having a weakened immune system
  • being pregnant

If a person has severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, they need to seek emergency medical attention immediately. They need to notify healthcare workers they may have COVID-19, especially if they go to a healthcare facility.

Scientists are still researching the best treatment options for COVID-19 headaches. Some treatments may include abortive analgesics, such as acetaminophen, and pain relief medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

However, according to a 2022 review of research into COVID-19 headaches, these may not be effective. If so, healthcare professionals may treat a person using:

If a person suspects they have a COVID-19 headache, they need to seek medical advice for correct and safe treatment.

Should I get tested for COVID-19 if I have a headache?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises people to undergo testing for COVID-19 if they have symptoms. These symptoms may include a headache, along with a wide range of others, such as cough, loss of taste and smell, and shortness of breath.

How long do post-COVID headaches last?

According to a 2021 analysis, COVID-19 headaches may last several months or longer after the infection clears. The analysis found that 8 to 15% of people still had headaches 6 months after developing COVID-19.

COVID-19 headaches tend to be bilateral or at the sides of the head. They may also be at the front or back of the head or behind the eyes.

They may feel pulsating or tightening, with intense pain that lasts for some time.

A person may have several other symptoms of COVID-19, including headaches that may last for several months after the infection.

Healthcare professionals can use several methods to treat a COVID-19 headache, including pain medication.

If a person thinks they may have COVID-19, they need to seek medical advice and follow appropriate guidelines. If they have trouble breathing or other concerning symptoms, they need to seek emergency medical attention.