Arteritis - temporal; Cranial arteritis; Giant cell arteritis
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
About 40% of people will have other nonspecific symptoms such as respiratory complaints (most frequently dry cough) or weakness or pain along many nerve areas. Rarely, paralysis of eye muscles may occur. A persistent fever may be the only symptom.
The doctor will examine your head. Touching the head may show that the scalp is senstive and has a tender, thick artery on one side. The affected artery may have a weak pulse or no pulse.
Blood tests may include:
Blood tests cannot specifically diagnose this condition. A biopsy and examination of tissue from the affected artery show changes that confirm the diagnosis of temporal vasculitis in most cases.
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