What should you know about persistent temple headache?

Temple pain can accompany a viral illness such as a Common Cold or COVID-19, nasal and sinus inflammation, dehydration, Heat Exhaustion, or Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Dengue Fever can also cause headache with fever and marked body aches, particularly after possible mosquito exposure. The location alone cannot identify the cause. Tell a clinician whether the pain is new, one-sided, throbbing, worse with movement, linked with nausea or light sensitivity, or associated with fever, congestion, jaw pain, or visual symptoms.

Rest in a cool, quiet place, drink fluids, eat if you have missed meals, and limit alcohol. Keep a record of onset, duration, triggers, associated symptoms, and any medicine taken. Avoid taking pain medicines more often than the label or a clinician advises. Arrange a review if the headache persists, repeatedly returns, is changing, or interferes with normal activity.

Seek emergency care for a sudden, extremely severe headache, weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, fainting, confusion, seizure, new vision loss, a stiff neck with fever, or headache after a significant head injury. Seek prompt care for temple pain with a painful scalp, jaw pain while chewing, or visual change, particularly when these symptoms are new.

Does the pattern suggest infection, dehydration, sinus inflammation, or another headache disorder? Do I need an examination or testing? Which symptoms should prompt emergency care, and how should I manage recurrent pain?