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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Assessment online. A doctor can judge whether your symptoms could be giant cell arteritis and how urgently you need in-person tests; diagnosis and the start of treatment are in person.
- What it is: inflammation of arteries, especially those at the temples, formerly called temporal arteritis. Untreated, it can cause sudden, permanent loss of sight.
- Who gets it: adults over 50, most often aged 70 to 80. Women are about twice as likely to get it, and it is most common in people of Northern European descent.
- Main symptoms: a new, persistent headache, usually at the temples, a sore or tender scalp, jaw pain when chewing or talking, and vision problems.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for sudden loss of vision or double vision, or weakness, numbness or slurred speech.
Do not book a video appointment if you have sudden loss of vision, blurred or double vision with a new headache, a tender scalp or jaw pain, or signs of a stroke such as weakness, numbness or slurred speech. Call 112 or go to an emergency department or an emergency eye department now. If you think you have giant cell arteritis without vision problems, get an urgent in-person assessment rather than waiting.
Can an online doctor help with giant cell arteritis?
No, giant cell arteritis cannot be diagnosed or started on treatment online: it needs blood tests, an examination of the temples, often an ultrasound scan or a biopsy, and steroid treatment started straight away by the team that sees you in person. What a doctor by video can do is go through symptoms that could be giant cell arteritis, tell you plainly how urgently you need to be seen, and support you through long-term treatment once it is diagnosed: side effects, bone and stomach protection, and the signs of a relapse.
How an online consultation helps with possible giant cell arteritis
- Urgency made clear: Whether you need an emergency eye department now, or urgent blood tests and a specialist, and what to say when you get there.
- Look-alikes considered: Migraine, tension headache, trigeminal neuralgia, dental pain and polymyalgia rheumatica can overlap with it.
- Support on steroids: Side effects, protecting your bones and stomach, and why steroids must never be stopped suddenly.
- Relapses spotted early: Which returning symptoms mean you need your specialist again.
What the doctor checks in an online assessment of possible giant cell arteritis
The doctor asks about your sight first, because it decides how fast you need care. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs: loss of vision, blurred or double vision, even if it came and went, and weakness, numbness or slurred speech.
- The headache: whether it is new, where it is, and whether it is there most of the time.
- Your scalp and jaw: soreness when you touch your scalp or temples, and pain in the jaw or tongue when you eat or talk.
- Your muscles: pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck or hips, worse in the morning.
- General symptoms: a high temperature, tiredness, weight loss, low mood or feeling as if you have flu.
- Your health: your age, diabetes, bone thinning, stomach ulcers, and any steroids you have already taken.
If the doctor thinks you could have giant cell arteritis, you will be told where to go for blood tests and a specialist assessment, and how quickly. Take a list of your medicines with you.
What is giant cell arteritis?
Giant cell arteritis is inflammation of the lining of arteries, mainly those in the head and at the temples, which is why it used to be called temporal arteritis. It can also affect large arteries in the neck and arms, and the aorta, the main artery from the heart. The exact cause is unknown: the immune system seems to attack the artery walls, and some genes and environmental factors may raise the risk.
Who gets it?
- Age: almost always adults over 50, most often aged 70 to 80. It is extremely rare under 50.
- Sex: women are about twice as likely to get it, but men are more likely to lose their sight from it.
- Background: it is most common in white people of Northern European or Scandinavian descent.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica: having it raises the risk.
In the United States, about 19 to 23 people in every 100,000 have it.
Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
The two often go together. About 40 to 50% of people with giant cell arteritis also have polymyalgia rheumatica, which causes pain and stiffness around the shoulders, neck and hips, worst in the morning, and up to 1 in 5 people with polymyalgia rheumatica develop giant cell arteritis. If you have polymyalgia rheumatica and develop a new headache, jaw pain or vision problems, get help immediately.
What are the first signs of giant cell arteritis?
The most common symptoms are a headache and tenderness of the temples or scalp. The symptoms of an inflamed temporal artery are:
- a new, persistent headache, usually at the temples, sometimes throbbing, on one or both sides
- pain or tenderness at the temples or on the scalp
- jaw or tongue pain when eating or talking
- vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes
- flu-like symptoms, a high temperature, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss or low mood
- aching in the shoulders, upper arms, hips and thighs
Vision problems are more likely in people who also have jaw pain. The headache is usually there most of the time rather than coming and going, and symptoms can come back after treatment.
Why is giant cell arteritis an emergency? The risk to your sight
Untreated, giant cell arteritis can cut off the blood supply to the eye and cause sudden, painless loss of vision, usually in one eye and usually permanent. In a UK study of 271 people with giant cell arteritis, 17% had permanent loss of sight and 1% had a stroke. Treatment started quickly can help prevent this, which is why steroids are started before the diagnosis is confirmed.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sudden loss of vision, or blurred or double vision, with a new headache, scalp tenderness or jaw pain | Call 112 or go to an emergency department or emergency eye department now |
| Weakness, numbness, slurred speech or a drooping face | Call 112 |
| A new headache with scalp tenderness or jaw pain when eating, without vision problems | Urgent in-person assessment and blood tests; specialists aim to see you within 3 working days at the latest, ideally sooner |
| Polymyalgia rheumatica and a new headache | Contact a doctor immediately |
| Known giant cell arteritis on steroids, with symptoms coming back | Contact your specialist urgently |
Other complications
Giant cell arteritis can also cause a stroke or a mini-stroke, and an aortic aneurysm, a bulge in the main artery that can burst. An aneurysm can develop years after diagnosis, so doctors may recommend scans from time to time.
What can be mistaken for temporal arteritis?
Other headaches and face pains can feel similar, and some people have more than one condition. These clues help, but only blood tests and a specialist can confirm or rule out giant cell arteritis:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | How it differs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Giant cell arteritis | A new, persistent headache over 50, a tender scalp, jaw pain when eating, vision problems | Assessed online, treated in person |
| Migraine | Attacks of 4 to 72 hours, often throbbing, with sickness and light sensitivity | Treated online |
| Tension headache | A tight band on both sides, without jaw pain or vision problems | Treated online |
| Trigeminal neuralgia | Electric-shock attacks of seconds in the face or jaw | Partly online |
| A dental or jaw joint problem | Pain in a tooth or around the jaw joint, found on a dental examination | See a dentist |
| Polymyalgia rheumatica alone | Pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck and hips, without headache or jaw pain | See a doctor |
How is giant cell arteritis diagnosed?
A doctor asks about your symptoms and examines your temples, then you have blood tests and are referred to a specialist. The tests are:
- Blood tests: the ESR and CRP measure inflammation, and a full blood count checks for anaemia. They are taken before, or straight after, the first dose of steroids.
- An ultrasound scan of the arteries at the temples.
- A biopsy: a small piece of the temporal artery is removed under local anaesthetic and checked for inflammation.
- Other scans, such as CT, MRI or PET, to look at the larger arteries.
If you have any vision problems, you should be seen by an eye specialist at a hospital eye department without delay.
What might the doctor recommend for symptoms that could be giant cell arteritis?
What happens next depends on your sight and how strongly the symptoms point to giant cell arteritis. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with the British Society for Rheumatology guideline:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision loss or double vision with symptoms of giant cell arteritis | Emergency eye assessment and steroids | No | Call 112 or go to an emergency eye department now |
| A new headache over 50 with a tender scalp or jaw pain | Urgent blood tests and steroids, with a specialist referral | Only to assess | Urgently, in person |
| A new headache over 50 without typical features | An assessment of the likely cause, with clear warning signs | Yes, to assess | If scalp tenderness, jaw pain or vision problems appear |
| Diagnosed and on steroids, doing well | Support with side effects, bones and stomach, in line with the specialist plan | Yes | For blood tests and specialist reviews |
| Symptoms coming back as steroids are reduced | Contact the specialist team | Partly | Urgently, for blood tests |
A new headache and not sure how urgent it is? A doctor can tell you in one consultation how quickly you need to be seen.
See available times →How is giant cell arteritis treated?
The main treatment is a steroid medicine, usually prednisolone. It is started before the diagnosis is confirmed because of the risk to your sight, and the first dose can be given before the blood test results are back. Treatment has two stages:
- A high dose for a few weeks to control the symptoms; if there are vision problems, steroids may be given through a drip.
- A lower dose once symptoms improve, reduced slowly, possibly for several years. A small number of people need steroids for life.
Symptoms often start to improve within days of starting treatment.
Other medicines you may need
- low-dose aspirin, to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack when the heart’s arteries are affected
- a medicine to protect the stomach from the steroids
- a medicine to protect the bones from thinning, with calcium and vitamin D
- methotrexate or tocilizumab, which can reduce the steroid dose needed and help prevent relapses
What you can do yourself
- Never stop taking steroids suddenly unless your doctor tells you to.
- Keep your follow-up appointments, which check how you are doing and look for side effects.
- Know the side effects: more infections, thinner bones, cataracts, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, poor sleep, mood swings, weak muscles, swelling and weight gain.
- Stay active, which helps protect your bones and muscles.
- Report any new headache, jaw pain or vision change straight away.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. Giant cell arteritis is started on high-dose steroids by the team that assesses you in person, with the blood tests taken first or straight after. Once treatment has started, the doctor can help with side effects and with medicines that protect your stomach and bones, in line with your specialist’s plan. Codeine and other opioid painkillers are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Waiting to see whether a new headache with scalp tenderness or jaw pain settles. Painkillers on their own. Stopping or skipping steroids when you feel better.
Will it go away? Outlook and life expectancy
Giant cell arteritis does not go away on its own, and untreated it can cause permanent sight loss and life-threatening problems such as an aneurysm or a stroke. With early diagnosis and treatment the outlook is good: it has not been found to shorten life expectancy, and after treatment starts the main risk is usually the side effects of the medicine.
It can come back, even after treatment has worked. Regular check-ups with blood tests and, sometimes, scans help catch a relapse early.
Special situations
Diabetes
Steroids can raise blood sugar, so if you have diabetes you will need closer checks while you take them.
Driving
Do not drive if your vision is affected, and ask your eye specialist before you start again.
Giant cell arteritis while travelling in Europe
Carry enough steroid tablets for the whole trip in your hand luggage, with a list of your medicines, because stopping suddenly is not safe. Sudden vision loss or double vision abroad means 112.
Children
Giant cell arteritis is extremely rare under 50. Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When giant cell arteritis is assessed online, and when you need in-person care
Assessed online: symptoms where it is unclear whether giant cell arteritis is possible and how urgent it is, the other likely causes, and support on long-term steroids within your specialist’s plan.
In-person care: every suspected case, blood tests, the ultrasound scan and the biopsy, starting steroids, any vision problem, which needs emergency eye care, and relapses.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, even if it came back
- blurred or double vision with a new headache, scalp tenderness or jaw pain
- weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, an arm or a leg, slurred speech or a drooping face
- a sudden, severe headache that reaches its worst within 5 minutes
- a headache with a high temperature and a stiff neck, or after a head injury
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a new headache with pain or tenderness at the temples or on the scalp, if you are over 50
- jaw or tongue pain when eating or talking
- a new headache if you have polymyalgia rheumatica
- symptoms of giant cell arteritis coming back after treatment
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your symptoms: describe the headache, any scalp tenderness, jaw pain and vision changes, and say whether you have polymyalgia rheumatica or take steroids.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s giant cell arteritis? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call. If you have an emergency sign listed on this page, call 112 instead.
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Frequently asked questions about giant cell arteritis
What is giant cell arteritis?
Inflammation of the lining of arteries, mainly those in the head and at the temples. It affects adults over 50, most often aged 70 to 80, and can cause permanent loss of sight if it is not treated quickly.
Is temporal arteritis the same as giant cell arteritis?
Yes. Temporal arteritis is the older name, because the arteries at the temples are often affected. Giant cell arteritis is now preferred, because it can affect other large arteries too.
What are the first signs of temporal arteritis?
The first signs of temporal arteritis are a new, persistent headache, usually at the temples, pain or tenderness on the scalp, jaw or tongue pain when eating or talking, and sometimes vision problems, a high temperature, tiredness and weight loss.
What are the symptoms of an inflamed temporal artery?
An inflamed temporal artery, the sign of giant cell arteritis, causes headache and tenderness at the temple or on the scalp, jaw pain when chewing, and vision problems such as double vision or loss of vision. Flu-like symptoms, tiredness and weight loss are common too.
What can be mistaken for temporal arteritis?
Migraine, tension headache, trigeminal neuralgia, dental and jaw joint problems, and polymyalgia rheumatica can all overlap with temporal arteritis. Only blood tests and a specialist assessment can confirm or rule it out.
Can giant cell arteritis cause blindness?
Yes, if it is not treated quickly. Giant cell arteritis can cause sudden, painless loss of sight, usually in one eye and usually permanent. In a UK study, 17% of people with it had permanent sight loss, which is why treatment starts before the diagnosis is confirmed.
How is giant cell arteritis treated?
Giant cell arteritis is treated with steroids, usually prednisolone, started straight away: a high dose for a few weeks, then a slowly reducing lower dose, possibly for several years. Aspirin and medicines to protect the stomach and bones are often added, and some people need methotrexate or tocilizumab.
What helps while being treated for giant cell arteritis?
Take the steroid every day without missing doses and never stop suddenly, carry a steroid card, report any vision change at once, take the bone-protecting calcium, vitamin D and other medicines prescribed, keep active and eat a diet lower in salt and sugar to limit steroid weight gain and blood pressure, have blood sugar, blood pressure and eye pressure checked, protect against infection with vaccines, and keep a symptom diary for the reviews. Giant cell arteritis treatment lasts 1 to 2 years or more.
Will temporal arteritis go away on its own?
No. Untreated, temporal arteritis can cause permanent sight loss and life-threatening problems such as an aneurysm or a stroke. With treatment, symptoms often start to improve within days.
Can giant cell arteritis be prevented?
No. Giant cell arteritis cannot be prevented, because its cause, an immune attack on the artery walls in later life, is not understood and there is no screening test; what can be prevented is its worst outcome, permanent sight loss, by recognising the pattern, a new headache with scalp tenderness, jaw pain on chewing or visual symptoms in someone over 50, and getting medical advice without delay, so that steroids start before the diagnosis is confirmed. People with polymyalgia rheumatica should know these signs.
What is life expectancy with temporal arteritis?
Giant cell arteritis has not been found to shorten life expectancy when it is diagnosed and treated early. After treatment starts, the main risk is usually the side effects of the medicine.
Can giant cell arteritis come back?
Yes, giant cell arteritis can relapse even after treatment has worked, most often while the steroid dose is being reduced in the first 1 to 2 years, and about half of people have at least one flare; a returning headache, jaw pain, scalp tenderness, fever or any change in vision means contacting the doctor without delay, because the dose is usually stepped back up. Regular check-ups with blood tests for inflammation help catch a relapse early.
Can an online doctor diagnose giant cell arteritis?
No. A doctor by video can judge whether your symptoms could be giant cell arteritis and how urgently you need to be seen, but the diagnosis needs blood tests and a specialist in person, and treatment starts straight away.
- Temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 14 August 2023.
- BSR guideline on diagnosis and treatment of giant cell arteritis, Mackie SL, et al. Rheumatology (British Society for Rheumatology), 2020.
- Giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), Cleveland Clinic (US), reviewed January 2025.
- Giant cell arteritis: symptoms and causes, Mayo Clinic (US), updated 2 June 2026.
- Polymyalgia rheumatica, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 23 April 2023.
- Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management (CG150), NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2012, updated 2021.
- Cluster headaches, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 18 August 2023.
- Trigeminal neuralgia, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 27 January 2023.
- Tension headaches, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 1 August 2025.
- Headaches, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 17 April 2024.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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