Periorbital Cellulitis

Periorbital cellulitis is a bacterial infection that occurs around the eyelid. Also known as preseptal cellulitis or eyelid cellulitis, periorbital cellulitis is more common in children than it is in adults. Symptoms of periorbital cellulitis include fever, redness, and swelling of the eyelid. The infection is treated with antibiotics. Adults are usually treated with oral antibiotics; when treating children, antibiotics are administered intravenously. However, adults with severe symptoms may require IV antibiotics as well.

 

Periorbital Cellulitis: An Introduction

Cellulitis is a skin infection characterized by swelling, redness, warmth, and pain. Periorbital cellulitis, also known as preseptal cellulitis or eyelid cellulitis, is an infection that occurs around the eyelid. This type of cellulitis is more common in children than adults.
 

Causes of Periorbital Cellulitis

Periorbital cellulitis is an infection that is caused by bacteria. The most common bacteria that cause periorbital cellulitis in adults are streptococcus and staphylococcus.
 
Prior to the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine, the most common cause of periorbital cellulitis in children was Haemophilus influenzae type B. Now, there is not one single type of bacterium that is associated with periorbital cellulitis in children.
 

Periorbital Cellulitis: Risk Factors

Cellulitis research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely to develop periorbital cellulitis. Periorbital cellulitis risk factors include:
 
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Eye trauma
  • Insect bites.
     
While these risk factors are not causes of periorbital cellulitis, they do increase a person's chance of developing the infection.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD