What condition is confirmed when patients experience migraines without aura?

When patients experience migraines without aura, the condition identified is often referred to as a "pure migraine." This type of migraine is characterized by the presence of headache symptoms that do not include the neurological disturbances known as aura, which can manifest as visual changes or sensory abnormalities.

The distinction between migraines with and without aura is critical in clinical practice, as it helps guide treatment choices and implications for patient management. Patients suffering from migraines without aura typically may experience unilateral, throbbing pain, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound, but they do not have the preceding sensory symptoms that herald an aura.

In contrast, migraines with aura would involve these premonitory symptoms, while muscle tension headaches typically present with a different symptom profile, characterized by a steady, pressing pain rather than the pulsating nature of migraines. Chronic daily headache encompasses a broader range of headache disorders that occur on 15 or more days a month, which may include both tension-type headaches and chronic migraine, rather than specifying the absence of aura.

Therefore, "pure migraine" accurately encapsulates the condition where patients experience migraine symptoms without the accompanying aura, aligning with the characteristics and diagnostic criteria for this specific type of headache.