Preseptal and Orbital Cellulitis in Childhood: The Experience of Ankara Training and Research Hospital

INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of the etiology, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment and complications of preseptal and orbital cellulitis in patients and to show that these complications can be prevented with early diagnosis and effective treatment.

METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with orbital and preseptal cellulitis who were admitted to Ankara Educational and Research Hospital Pediatric Clinic between September 2015 and February 2017 were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (92.1%) were diagnosed with preseptal cellulitis and 3 patients (7.9%) with orbital cellulitis. The mean age at diagnosis of the patients (24 girls [63.2%] and 14 boys [36.8%]) was 4.01 ± 3.72 years. The most frequent etiologic factor was conjunctivitis (28.9%). 25 patients (65.7%) were treated with intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam alone as the first treatment. No patients underwent surgery. All patients recovered completely without any eye illnesses and no complications were observed.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Orbital infections can be healed by early diagnosis and effective antibiotic therapy in childhood and ampicillin-sulbactam therapy alone should be preferred over combination therapy because of it’s high effectiveness and relatively low side effects.