I am a 39-year-old male, 6'2" tall and weigh 190 lbs. I have no history of hypertension. For the past four days I have had a swollen-looking artery on the side of my head, which is not normally so prominent. I think it is the temporal artery. I first noticed it when I reached up to scratch and a scab fell off and I was bleeding, and I noticed that about a 1-inch length of the artery was swollen in the area of my temple where the scab had been. It took a long time to get it to stop bleeding after the scab came off. I think I may have either been bitten by a bug, or more likely, was burned in that spot by a piece of hot metal spark from welding. The swollen part of my artery has extended from my eye area, a bit out towards the ear, and also well up my forehead and onto the front part of the top of my head. It seems to be aggravated by sun and activity; it seems to wax and wane a bit according to my rest level/exposure to heat/sun. The artery is slightly tender to the touch, but I have no headache, no vision problems, no trouble with my jaw chewing or talking, no flu-like symptoms, no fever. I feel fine other than the very slight tenderness to the touch. Could this be some kind of irritation from a burn or bite, that is continuing to irritate the artery some four days later? I am concerned because I am currently working in the Bahamas and will not be returning home to the US for two more weeks. This link has a photo, with the spot of the burn/bite marked. http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/737525/swollenartery.jpg