What Causes Swelling Near Temple With Extreme Pain?

Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 Answered on

Wed, 8 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Swelling near the temple with extreme pain

Answered by Dr. Neel Kudchadkar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You seem to be having temporal arteritis.

Detailed Answer:
I will directly answer your question by saying that you most probably seem to having a condition called as temporal arteritis. The scalp of a persons head has a deep and rich network of arteries. Arteries carry oxygen rich blood to the scalp and they have thicker walls than veins. When these arteries become inflammed,
swollen and tender (painful), a person is said to have temporal arteritis. The cause of this illness is that the immune system of the body (which protects us from diseases) mistakenly attacks and targets these arteries resulting in the problem that you have just described. Please go to a physician who can assess you and he will most probably give you Corticosteroids which you might have to take long term.
Take care of your health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E