The majority of patients with primary headache do not seek medical help. In the present study we analyse the characteristics of those patients with primary headaches who consulted a single headache outpatient service in East Hungary. All consecutive patients with primary headaches referred to the headache center between February 2002 and April 2003 were asked to fill in a questionnaire on headache characteristics and the migraine disability score (MIDAS) form. A total of 327 patients had some form of primary headache: 42% migraine, 31% tension-type headache, 1% cluster headache and 26% had combination headache. Of the patients 95% were younger than 60 years of age. Only 16% of the patients were male. Chronic daily headache was found in 41% of patients. Although headache was the least severe in tension-type headache, reported disability occurred on much more days in this group than in migraine patients. The majority of patients with primary headache were in the active age group. Patients with tension-type headache need more attention, as disability is more severe in this patient group than generally assumed. More attention to the headaches of men and the elderly could improve the quality of life in these groups of the Hungarian population.