What Eyes Behold if Missed can be a Life Taking Event: A Case of Orbital Cellulitis

Orbital Cellulitis
Vol. 8 No. 2 : 2013 (89-93)

REZA MQ REZA MQ
JOHAR MJ JOHAR MJ
Ismail MS Ismail MS

Abstract
Orbital cellulits is one of the life threatening event that should not be missed out and must be distinguished from preseptal cellulitis. It is an infective process involving ocular adnexal structures posterior to the orbital septum. High index of suspicion is the key to its diagnosis as even experienced physician can miss. Here, we present a case of a 15-year-old female who presented with progressive swelling over right forehead associated with high grade fever, headache and purulent discharge of the swelling. She was diagnosed with sepsis due to right forehead abscess and was treated with intravenous antibiotics followed with admission. However, she suddenly deteriorated in the ward which required intubation and thereby Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Investigations revealed fluid collection at right retrobulbar space suggestive of an abscess where emergency drainage was carried out. Unfortunately, her condition worsened and patient succumbed at day-10 of admission, despite all efforts.

Keywords : cellulitis, Malaysia, orbital, sinusitis,

Correspondance Address
Prof. Dr. Ismail Mohd Saiboon, Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-91455491 Fax: +603-91456577 Email: fadzmail69@yahoo.com.my


References
Chaudhry, I.A., Shamsi, F.A., Elzaridi, E., Al- Rasheed, W., Al- Amri, A., Arat, Y.O. 2008. Inpatient preseptal cellulitis: experience from a tertiary eye care centre. Br J Ophthalmol 92(10): 1337-41. Chaudhry, I.A., Al-Rashed, W., Arat, Y.O. 2012. The hot orbit: orbital cellulitis. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol 19(1): 34-42. Duke-Elder, S., MacFaul, P.A. 1974. The ocular adnexa: part 2. Lacrimal orbital and para orbital diseases. In: System of Ophthalmology. Edited by Duke-Elder S. London: Henry Kimpton; 859–89. Maniglia, A.J., Goodwin, W.J., Arnold, J.E., Ganz, E. 1989. Intracranial abscesses secondary to nasal, sinus, and orbital infections in adults and children. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 115(12): 1424–9. Mair, M.H., Geley, T., Judmaier, W., Gassner, I. 2002. Using orbital sonography to diagnose and monitor treatment of acute swelling of the eyelids in pediatric patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol 179(6): 1529-34. Reddy, S.C, Tajunisah, I., Low, K.P., Karmila, A.B. 2008. Prevalence of Eye Diseases and Visual Impairment In Urban Population - A Study from University of Malaya Medical Centre. Malaysian Family Physicians 3(1): 25-8. Schramm, V.L., Myers, E.N., Kennerdell, J.S. 1978. Orbital complications of acute sinusitis: evaluation, management and outcome. Otolaryngology 86(2): 221-30. Suhaili, D.N., Goh, B.S., Gendeh, B.S. 2010. A ten year retrospective review of orbital complications secondary to acute sinusitis in children. Med J Malaysia 65(1): 49-52. Williams, S.R., Carruth, J.A. 1992. Orbital infection secondary to sinusitis in children: diagnosis and management. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 17(6): 550-7.