A child has fever, a swollen red eyelid, proptosis, pain on eye movement and reduced eye movements. What is the diagnosis and management?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Orbital cellulitis, treated with IV antibiotics after urgent imaging
- Step 1: Proptosis, painful and limited eye movement point to infection behind the orbital septum. Step 2. It threatens vision and can spread intracranially, so it requires admission, IV antibiotics and CT. Answer: Orbital cellulitis, treated with IV antibiotics after urgent imaging. Why not the others: Preseptal cellulitis lacks proptosis and ophthalmoplegia. Allergic eye disease has itch and no fever. A stye is a localised lid infection.
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