What is a classic symptom of temporal arteritis?

A classic symptom of temporal arteritis, also known as giant cell arteritis, is indeed severe headaches. Patients often report new-onset, localized headaches, typically felt in the temples, which can be quite severe and persistent. These headaches are often unilateral but can also occur bilaterally.

In addition, patients may experience tenderness in the scalp, jaw claudication (pain while chewing), and other systemic symptoms like fever and malaise. However, the most concerning complications of temporal arteritis are vision loss and other ocular symptoms due to the involvement of the arteries supplying the optic nerve.

Timely recognition and treatment are essential to prevent irreversible vision loss, which is a significant risk in patients with this condition. While vision loss can be a serious and notable complication arising from temporal arteritis, the classic presentation that prompts further evaluation typically begins with headaches.