EMERGENCY,  EYE

Orbital Cellulitis

  • Differential diagnoses include
    • Preseptal cellulitis
      • Soft tissue infection of eyelids, anterior to orbital septum
      • Spread of organisms from contiguous structures – sinusitis, hordeolum, dacrocystitis, eyelid trauma
      • Children < 4 incomplete orbital septum – increased risk of orbital cellulitis
      • Vision and eye movements normal
      • patient systemically well
      • aeitology: Staph, strep, HiB, HSV, HZV
      • Mx
        • Consdier oral vs IV
        • flucloxa or diclox
        • If concurrent sinusitis or risk factors HiB – Augmentin
        • Review within 48 hours to check improving – if not consider treating as orbital cellulitis
    • Orbital cellulitis
      •  Can progress to loss of vision, brain abscess
      • Usually from paranasal sinuses
      • May be – reduced vision, painful eye mvoemnts, diplopia, proptosis, chemosis, systemically unwell
      • Mx – blood cultues, CT san, IV Abx, may need surfical drainage, 4 hrly eye obs
    • Viral conjunctivitis (the other eye will be swollen soon plus red and teary) 
    • Allergic reaction / angiooedema 
    • Insect bite 
    • Sinusitis 

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