Periorbital cellulitisis an infection involving the skin around the eye or the eyelid.
It is also known as preseptal cellulitis.
A periorbital infection can involve any tissue in the area until it reaches the bony socket.
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But once the bony tissue is involved, this becomes known asorbital cellulitis.
Orbital cellulitis is more serious than periorbital cellulitis because it can quickly lead to vision loss if left untreated.
While anybody can have periorbital cellulitis, it most commonly occurs in children under age 5.
This article will discuss symptoms and causes of periorbital cellulitis, how it is diagnosed.
and how this can be effectively treated.
They also may be slightly different for everyone.
Sometimes this arises from a bug bite that’s infected with bacteria.
The diagnosis is usually made based on this exam and symptoms.
In some cases, the infection can be controlled by oral antibiotics.
Sometimes, however, your healthcare provider may inject antibiotics.
Occasionally the antibiotics may need to be administered by IV in a hospital setting for two or three days.
Hospitalization is usually required if:
Prognosis
In most cases, patients receiving treatment improve as expected.
As long as periorbital cellulitis is diagnosed promptly and properly treated, then recovery is usually straightforward.
These can include the following:
The potential for these must be taken seriously.
However, such complications are definitely the exception.
Summary
Periorbital cellulitis tends to affect young children under the age of 5.
This condition is marked by eyelid swelling, redness, pain and sometimes fever.
Periorbital cellulitis can arise from trauma to the eye, such as a cut or even an insect bite.
It is usually due to a bacterial infection.
Once the condition is identified, antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment.
In mild cases, oral antibiotics can do the trick.
Before long, the eye should be back to normal.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Orbital cellulitis.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Preseptal cellulitis.
Stanford Children’s Health.Cellulitis of the eye in children.
