[Orbital and periorbital cellulitis in childhood. A review of 116 cases]

Orbital and periorbital cellulitis, which can result from a spectrum of disorders that are commonly encountered in pediatric practice, usually develops as a complication of paranasal sinus infection, and also can result from dental infection, trauma to the eyelids or external ocular infection. The clinical features, microbiological data and treatment of 97 children with periorbital cellulitis and 19 children with orbital cellulitis, admitted to our hospital from January 1983 through December 1993, are reported here. Twenty-three percent of the children (27 cases) had positive cultures, 7 cases with orbital cellulitis developed neurological or ophthalmological complications. Antibiotic therapy alone was effective in 97 patients, but a significant proportion required paranasal sinus or orbital surgery (16%).