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Cellulitis, Periorbital

Mark B. Stephens, MD, MS, FAAFP, Fozia Akhtar Ali, MD, FAAFP and Khorshid Amirkhosravi, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • An acute bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue anterior to the orbital septum; does not involve the orbital structures (globe, fat, and ocular muscles)

  • Synonym(s): p...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Induration, erythema, warmth, and/or tenderness of periorbital soft tissue, usually with normal vision and normal eye movements

  • Chemosis (conjunctival swelling), proptosis; pain with e...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Treat periorbital cellulitis with oral antibiotics and ensure close follow-up.

  • Empiric antibiotic treatment should cover the most likely organisms (Staphylococcus and Streptococcus)...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Follow for signs of orbital involvement, including decreased visual acuity or painful/limited ocular motility. 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Maintain good sk...

REFERENCES

1
Baring  DE, Hilmi  OJ. An evidence based review of periorbital cellulitis. Clin Otolaryngol.  2011;36(1):57–64. [View Abstract on OvidMedline] ...

ADDITIONAL READING

Ekhlassi  T, Becker  N. Preseptal and orbital cellulitis. Dis Mon.  2017;63(2):30–32. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]  

CODES

ICD10

L03.211 Cellulitis of face 

SNOMED

109245003 Cellulitis of periorbital region 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Periorbital (preseptal) and orbital (postseptal) cellulitis occur most commonly in children.

  • CT scan of sinuses and orbits can differentiate periorbital cellulitis from orbital cellulit...

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