Periorbital cellulitis--also called preseptal cellulitis--is an infection involving the eyelid and surrounding tissues and is more common in children, according to eMedTV.com. Symptoms of this condition include redness, swelling and pain but no changes to visual acuity. This disease requires antibiotic treatment and can be the result of local infections or the spread of infection from other places in the body.
Sinusitis
According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, periorbital cellulitis can be caused by the spread of an infection that originates in the sinuses located near the nose. The bones between the orbit and the sinuses aren't very thick, so the infection can spread to the eyelid tissues. However, most cases of sinusitis don't cause periorbital infections. Bacteria that may cause this type of infection include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, according to EBMedicine.net.
Spread from a Local Infection
Periorbital cellulitis can also be caused by the spread of a different infection, such as a dental abscess, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Bacteria from the abscess in the mouth can travel to adjacent tissues in the face. Bacteria involved in this type of infection include Bacteroides and Fusobacterium, according to Christopher S. Kennedy and Mary E. Moffatt in the 2005 book "Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: 4th Edition."
Trauma to the Area
Any trauma that breaks the skin in the eyelid area can lead to periorbital cellulitis, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A scratch to the eyelid or an insect or animal bite can allow bacteria to enter the tissues of the eyelid, causing an infection. A minor facial wound may also lead to an infection of the eyelid tissues. Bacteria that are typically located on the skin, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, may be the cause of these infections, according to EBMedicine.net. Careful monitoring of facial or eyelid injuries can prevent direct infection and progression.
Infection from the Blood
Rarely, some patients with bacteria in the blood develop periorbital cellulitis, according to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Bacteria may enter the blood from an infection located anywhere else in the body but travels to the periorbital area. Bacterial presence in the blood can also cause the more serious infection called orbital cellulitis, an infection of the tissues behind the eye. Possible bacterial causes include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Group A Streptococcus, according to EBMedicine.net.
References
- eMedTV.com: Periorbital Cellulitis
- "Harwood-Nuss' Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine: 4th Edition;" Cellulitis; Christopher S. Kennedy and Mary E. Moffatt; 2005.
- American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: Cellulitis
- "Greenberg's Text-Atlas of Emergency Medicine;" Michael I. Greenberg; 2005.
- The Merck Manuals: Preseptal and Orbital Cellulitis
