Temporal arteritis
Temporal arteritis, also termed giant cell arteritis, is a condition that needs immediate medical care. These arteries cause inflammation, particularly at the side of the head.
Signs of temporal arteritis
The symptoms depend on which arteries are affected.
The main symptoms are:
- Severe, frequent headaches
- Pain over the temples(head)
- Jaw discomfort while eating or talking
- Vision concerns, such as double vision or loss of vision concerning both or one eye
People can also experience general illnesses such as symptoms of flu, weight loss, depression, and exhaustion.
What occurs in your examination
Your doctor will examine you totally, and after the blood test, the doctor might refer you to a specialist. They undergo further difficulty that includes;
- Ultrasound scan
- Biopsy under local anesthetic
Treatments
To treat temporal arteritis, doctors advise using steroid medications like prednisolone.
The treatment procedure gets started earlier because delaying can worsen the condition.
Two stages of the treatment:
- For a few weeks high dose of steroids to help ease your symptoms
- After there is an improvisation in your signs, you’ll get a lower amount of steroids which will last for several years
Depending upon their body condition, a circle of people must take steroids for the rest of their life. There will be regular monitoring of your health condition.
Additional treatments
Other types of cure you may require if you have temporal arteritis include:
- Low-dose aspirin – it reduces the risk of a stroke or heart attack
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – lower your risk of getting a stomach issue like indigestion or a stomach ulcer
- Bisphosphonate therapy – to decrease the risk of osteoporosis when taking prednisolone
- Immunosuppressants – help prevent temporal arteritis from coming back
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022