Objectives: To present a case series of pediatric patients treated for orbital cellulitis (OC) with systemic corticosteroids (S-CS) additional to standard antibiotic treatment.
Background: The most common source of orbital cellulitis is invasive ethmoidal sinusitis. Orbital cellulitis might be complicated by abscess formation and cavernous sinus thrombosis .S-CS has been proved beneficial in the treatment of acute rhino-sinusitis. Evidence about the effectiveness of S-CS therapy in orbital cellulitis in children is scarce. We present our experience in a case series of pediatric patients treated with S-CS in addition to antibiotics.
Materials/Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical files of children hospitalized in Schneider children`s medical center Israel with orbital cellulitis between 2007 and 2016, and received S-CS in addition to standard antibiotics. S-CS treatment was part of preparation for a CT scan in patients with asthma/hyper reactive airways disease or prescribed by an ENT or an ophthalmologist specialist. The data collected included: demographics (age, sex), clinical presentation, imaging and laboratory findings, treatment protocols, and outcome.
Results: Out of 32 cases with orbital cellulitis, 9 patients received at least one dose of S-CS. Seven of these 9 children, who were treated early in the course of the disease, showed rapid clinical improvement in proptosis, eye movement, edema or pain. None of the patients seemed to have any complication related to this treatment.
Discussion: S-CS in addition to standard antibiotics, given early in the course of treatment for orbital cellulitis, may be beneficial.
