Purpose of Review Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a chronic, inflammatory condition, primarily affecting the medium and larger arteries. The purpose of this narrative review is to describe GCA in the context of headache and facial pain, based on a case and the available current literature. Understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, the associated conditions, and the differential diagnoses is important in managing GCA. Recent Findings In a patient presenting with unilateral facial/head pain with disturbances of vision, GCA should be considered in the differential diagnosis. There is an association of GCA with several comorbid conditions, and infections including coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) infection. Management of GCA primarily depends upon the identification of the affected artery and prompt treatment. Permanent visual loss and other serious complications are associated with GCA. Summary GCA is characterized by robust inflammation of large- and medium-sized arteries and marked elevation of systemic mediators of inflammation. An interdisciplinary approach of management involving the pertinent specialties is strongly recommended.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 is associated with a hypercoagulable state and stroke is one of its most common neurological complications. The current study is aimed at investigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions for stroke. METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study to determine if there was a significant difference in the number of hospital admissions for stroke during the 2 months of lockdown and the two preceding months, (starting on 24 March 2020). The numbers were also compared with the figures during the same months in the previous year. The numbers were also compared to the same months one year prior. The secondary objectives were to compare the time between the onset of stroke and presentation to the hospital, type of strokes that presented to the hospital, severity of stroke, number of code activations, number of thrombolysis conducted, and in-hospital mortality between the same time periods. RESULTS The total number of patients admitted for stroke during the time periods from 25th March 2019 to 24th May 2019, 25th January 2020 to 24th March 2020 and 25th March 2020 to 24th May 2020 were 82, 72 and 75 respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between these numbers. However, there was a significant increase in the proportion of stroke cases when compared to total hospital admissions. This suggests that an increase in stroke incidence may have been masked by a reduction in the total number of patients presenting to the hospital. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of the patients who presented during the lockdown were higher. There were no significant differences in the time between the onset of stroke and presentation to the hospital, type of strokes that presented to the hospital, severity of stroke, number of code activations, number of thrombolysis conducted, and in-hospital mortality between the periods under study. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that there may be a relative increase in the incidence of stroke in the community, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The patients who presented with stroke during the lockdown period had a higher NIHSS score. KEYWORDS COVID-19, Stroke, Lockdown