Title of Case:

Background:

Preseptal and orbital cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the eye and orbital tissues that affects the majority of the population. Preseptal cellulitis is an infection of the tissues anterior to the orbital septum; orbital abscess is an infection of the tissues posterior to the orbital septum. It usually occurs as a complication of paranasal sinus infections in childhood. Here, we present a 4-year-old boy diagnosed orbital abscess after ethmoidal sinusitis and treated emergency surgical drainage on the pandemic area.

Case Presentation Summary:

A 4-year-old male patient presented with swelling, redness, and limitation of eye movements in the right eye. From his history, he had been using oral antibiotics for acute tonsillitis about a week, and the swelling in the eye gradually increased. Physical examination revealed significant proptosis, a purulent abscess, and painful eye movements in the right eye. In the laboratory, the leukocyte was 19000 mm3, C-reactive protein was 82.5 mg/L. Right ethmoid sinusitis and huge right orbital abscess were found on computed tomography. Vancomycin, clindamycin, treatment were started. The patient, consulted urgently to the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology, was taken to emergency operation and endoscopic sinus drainage was performed.Streptococcus intermedius growth in abscess sample, and antibiotic therapy was completed for ten days. The patient was discharged after the eye edema and ocular movements returned to normal.

Learning Points/Discussion:

Orbital abscess is rare but causes serious complications in childhood, especially after paranasal sinus infections.Sinusitis in children should be diagnosed and treated early, especially during the pandemic period, and orbital abscess should be considered in children presenting with swelling in the eye and limited eye movements.