Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital Cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues that are immediately surrounding the eye, this includes the eyelids, the eyebrow, and the cheek. The symptoms that are involved in orbital cellulitis are: painful or difficult eye movements, general malaise, bulging eyes, decreased vision, eye pain, especially with movement, shiny, red or purple eyelid, painful swelling of upper and lower eyelids, and fever that is geneally 102 degrees F or higher. The causes for orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection that can have very severe complications to it. The complications that are included in this is: hearing loss, optic nerve damage and loss of vision, meningitis, septicemia or blood infection, and cavernous sinus thrombosis. Haemophilus influenzae is often the infection that occur in children. This bacteria from a sinus infection is usually the cause of this condition. Children from the ages of 6 to 7 seem to be particularly susceptible to this infection from this bacteria. It has been stated that the rate of this severe orbital cellulitis has dropped steadily ever since the introduction of HiB vaccince which means Haemophilus influenzae B. Other bacteria that might also cause orbital cellulitis is: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Some more causes could be a stye on the eyelid, bug bites, or a recent eyelid injury. The infection orbital cellulitis that are in children could get worse very quickly and can lead to blindness. The treatments that need to be taken would be that the patient would have to stay in the hospital. Other treatments are giving antibiotics that are given through a vein. Surgery might also be an option because they would have to drain the abscess. The tests that could be ran to to discover this infection is: CBC which means a complete blood count, a bloood culture, and a spinal tap for very sick children. Other tests that could be run to discover this infections could be: an x-ray of the sinuses and the surrounding area, throat culture, a culture of the eye and nose drainage, and a CT scan or MRI scan of the sinuses and orbit. A prevention of this infection could be receiving the HiB vaccine according to recommened schedules that will generally prevent most haemophilus infections in children. Other younger children that are in the same household who have been exposed to this bacteria may receive antibiotics to prevent getting sick. With the proper detection and early treatments of sinus, dental, or other infections may prevent the spread of infection to the eyes. A doctor should be contacted about orbital cellulitis because it is an emergency that requires immediate treatment. Signs to confirm this infection that you can tell you doctor is swelling of the eyelids, especially with a fever.

Inc, A.D.A.M. (2010). Orbital cellulitis. Retrieved from http://health.google.com/health/ref/Orbital+cellulitis

Rubin, Peter A.D. (1999). 4 year old boy with proptosis of the left eye and an afferent pupillary defect. Retrieved from www.djo.harvard.edu/print.php?url=/physicians/gr/324&print=1