Aura (symptom)

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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W8MD's medical weight loss NYC, sleep center NYC
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Aura (symptom)
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Visual disturbances, sensory changes, speech disturbances
Complications	N/A
Onset	Typically before migraine headache
Duration	5 to 60 minutes
Types	N/A
Causes	Cortical spreading depression
Risks	Migraine, family history
Diagnosis	Clinical evaluation, patient history
Differential diagnosis	Transient ischemic attack, seizure, retinal detachment
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Migraine prophylaxis, lifestyle modifications
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Occurs in about 25% of people with migraines
Deaths	N/A

Aura (symptom) An aura is a perceptual disturbance experienced by some with migraine or epilepsy before either the headache or seizure begins. It often manifests as the perception of a strange light, an unpleasant smell, or confusing thoughts or experiences. Some people experience aura without a subsequent migraine or seizure (a condition called "migraine aura without headache" or "acephalgic migraine").

Symptoms

Auras can be different for each person. They may include:

• Visual phenomena, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots, or flashes of light
• Vision loss
• Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg
• Speech or language difficulties (aphasia)
• Less commonly, an aura may be associated with limb weakness (hemiplegic migraine).

Causes

Auras are typically caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. This can occur as a result of:

• Migraine
• Epilepsy
• Brain tumor
• Certain genetic disorders
• Certain medications

Treatment

Treatment for auras depends on the underlying cause. In many cases, treating the underlying condition (such as migraine or epilepsy) can help reduce the frequency and severity of auras.

See also

• Migraine
• Epilepsy
• Brain tumor
• Aphasia
• Hemiplegic migraine

References

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