Orbital and periorbital cellulitis in children

The proper management of patients with orbital and periorbital cellulitis represents a distinct challenge to the clinician. A retrospective study is presented of 165 patients with the diagnosis of orbital or periorbital cellulitis admitted to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) from January 1975 through December 1980. Sinusitis, trauma, local skin inflammations, and otitis were the most common etiologies. Twenty-three of the patients had orbital cellulitis, all of which were secondary to sinusitis. There was one death in this series. No patients had permanent ocular sequelae related to orbital or periorbital cellulitis. A discussion of etiology and management is presented, with emphasis on the usefulness of computerized tomography (CT).