My daughter, 19 w/ autism adhd, has had a headache for about 3 weeks on and off with eye pain. she's had some relief with showers and acetaminophen and ice packs. it's worse when she coughs. should i take her to the hospital or to a doctor office?

Persistent headache for "three weeks with eye pain" should be evaluated by a physician and imaging studies may be necessary (CT or MRI) as well as checking blood pressure, to make the diagnosis. Call your daughter's physician to get an early appointment , as ED waits and long weight times may be difficult for your daughter's autism condition, and cause unnecessary stress/anxiety.

Her treating doc for current conditions would be best to start with as he or she should be able to coordinate locally in case tests or referrals needed.

In this situation where it is unclear whether your daughter can fully express her symptoms, after three weeks it is best to seek medical attention to rule out serious causes of eye pain and headache