Orbital cellulitis

Definition:

An acute infection of the tissues immediately surrounding the eye.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection with potentially serious complications. It is usually caused by a bacterial infection which typically will have spread from the ethmoid or para-nasal sinuses but may also have its origin elsewhere such as a boil on the eye or eyelid, recent trauma to the eye, or a foreign object. In children, orbital cellulitis, and the less serious infection but still important periorbital cellulitis is most often caused by the organism Hemophilus influenza. Other organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pneumonia and beta hemolytic streptococci also may cause this condition.

Infants and children up through age six to seven-years-old seem to be particularly susceptible to infection with Hemophilus influenza and are most at risk. The incidence of severe Hemophilus influenza caused disease has decreased steadily since the introduction of HiB vaccine (Hemophilus influenza B). Risk factors are related to the causes of the infection. The actual incidence is not reported, but it is a rare infection.