What key symptoms are associated with Giant Cell Arteritis?

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, is a type of vasculitis that primarily affects the large and medium-sized blood vessels, particularly those in the head. The hallmark symptoms of GCA include headache, jaw claudication (pain in the jaw while chewing), and systemic signs such as fever and malaise.

Headache is often described as a new, severe headache that is persistent, and it can be localized to the temples. Jaw claudication is particularly distinctive for GCA, as it indicates ischemia of the muscles supplied by the affected arteries. The presence of fever signifies an inflammatory response and systemic involvement, which is common in this condition.

These symptoms are crucial for early diagnosis and treatment because untreated GCA can lead to severe complications, including blindness due to occlusion of the ophthalmic artery. Recognizing these specific symptoms helps clinicians provide timely interventions, such as corticosteroids, to prevent irreversible damage.

While joint pain and swelling can be observed in some cases, especially if there are concurrent rheumatological conditions, they are not key symptoms directly associated with GCA. Similarly, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, and shortness of breath are not characteristic of GCA and would prompt