What is Orbital Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that occurs in the tissues beneath the skin. It occurs in the skin and muscles near the eyes. Like cellulitis, orbital cellulitis is also a bacterial infection. 

It is a non-contagious disease, and young children are more prone to this. While it’s not a severe medical condition, failing to seek timely treatment for orbital cellulitis can lead to a dangerous condition.

What are the causes?

Common bacteria like Streptococcus species and Staphylococcus aureus cause orbital cellulitis. In the majority of cases, untreated bacterial sinus infection leads to orbital cellulitis.

There are chances that tooth and bacterial infections can also cause this condition to exist. Any wound or bug bite near the eye can also spread cellulitis. 

Majorly children are likely to attract periorbital cellulitis. It can become orbital cellulitis if not diagnosed timely. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the eyes of children for any new symptoms. 

What Are The Symptoms?

Here are the symptoms that occur in both adults and children:

• Proptosis means protruding eyes
• Pain and swelling in the eye area
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Unable to open the eyes
• Double vision
• Impaired vision
• Eye discharge
• Fever and headache
• Nasal tenderness
• Unable to move the eyes properly

How To Diagnose?

First, doctors can perform a visual test.

Following that, doctors recommend a diagnostic test to identify the bacteria and determine whether the person has orbital cellulitis or preseptal cellulitis. Preseptal cellulitis is also a bacterial eye infection, albeit less severe than orbital cellulitis, and requires immediate treatment.

Preseptal cellulitis happens in eyelid tissue at the front of the orbital septum. If left untreated, it can increase to become orbital cellulitis. 

Tests suggested by doctors

• CT scan 
• MRI
• Nose, teeth, and mouth examination
• Eye discharge and nasal cultures

How To Get Treatment?

Depending on the condition, doctors provide appropriate treatment for orbital cellulitis. Initially, they administer intravenous antibiotics based on the extent of the disease’s spread in the body. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are initially injected into the body, as they are effective against various bacterial infections.

If antibiotics aren’t as effective, then the next step is surgery.

Surgery is conducted to prevent the infection from spreading further into the body, involving the drainage of fluid from sinuses or infected eye sockets. If an abscess forms, it is also extracted during the procedure.

Surgery is more prescribed to adults than children.

Recovery time will be longer after the surgery. Treatment by antibiotics can be recovered in 1 to 2 weeks, whereas, if you undergo oral antibiotics then it will take 2 to 3 weeks. There are some side effects of the antibiotics also, like allergic reactions, gastrointestinal symptoms, and antibiotic resistance to some infections. 

Sinus infections are more severe than other bacterial infections. This infection spreads from ethmoid sinusitis and takes more time to get cured. 

When To Visit A Doctor?

If you are aware of the orbital cellulitis symptoms, then you must consult the doctor before this condition gets worse. Following complications can happen if orbital cellulitis treatment is not taken in time-

• Loss of vision partially
• Blindness
• Meningitis
• Cavernous sinus thrombosis
• Retinal vein occlusion

Do not underestimate orbital cellulitis, especially in children. If the treatment is not provided timely, then it can lead to surgery. You have to complete the full course of medication prescribed by your doctor and give enough rest to your body. Your body might feel tired from fighting the infection. An ample amount of rest helps antibiotics to kill the bacteria fast. 

Even if you feel good after a while, you have to strictly take antibiotics for a specific duration. Otherwise, the chances of having cellulitis or bacterial infection again can be increased. 

Prevention is better than cure anyway! So, if you witness any of the symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor. You can visit PVRI – the best eye hospital in Hyderabad.