atraumatic facial pain in adults - NICE guidance - suspected neurological conditions - recognition and referral
Last edited 05/2019 and last reviewed 05/2021
Facial pain, atraumatic
Summary points from NICE guidance relating to atraumatic facial pain are:
Facial pain with persistent facial numbness or abnormal neurological signs
Refer urgently adults with facial pain associated with persistent facial numbness or abnormal neurological signs for neuroimaging
Unilateral facial pain triggered by touching the face (trigeminal neuralgia)
Refer adults with unilateral facial pain that is triggered by touching the affected part of the face (trigeminal neuralgia) and is refractory to treatment
Scalp tenderness or jaw claudication suggestive of temporal arteritis
For adults with scalp tenderness or jaw claudication suggestive of temporal arteritis
- consider blood tests and follow local pathways for suspected giant cell (temporal) arteritis
- clinicians must be aware that a normal ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) does not exclude a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis
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