BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuPeriorbital cellulitisPreseptal cellulitisPeriorbital cellulitis is an infection of the eyelid or skin around the eye. Causes Periorbital cellulitis can occur at any age, but more commonly affects children younger than 5 years old.This infection can occur after a scratch, injury, or bug bite around the eye, which allows germs to enter the wound. It can also extend from a nearby site that is infected, such as the sinuses.Periorbital cellulitis is different than orbital cellulitis, which is an infection of the fat and muscles around the eye. In contrast to periorbital cellulitis, orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection, which can cause lasting problems and deeper infections.Orbital cellulitisOrbital cellulitis is an infection of the fat and muscles around the eye. It affects the eyelids, eyebrows, and cheeks. It may begin suddenly or be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms include:Redness around the eye or in the white part of the eye Swelling of the eyelid, whites of eyes, and surrounding area This condition usually does not affect vision or cause eye pain. Exams and Tests Your health care provider will examine the eye, especially, eye movements and test for vision, and ask about the symptoms.Tests that may be ordered include:Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit is an imaging method. It uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the eye sockets (orbits), eyes and ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scanMRI scanA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Antibiotics are given by mouth, by shots, or through a vein (intravenously; IV) to help fight the infection.IntravenouslyIntravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Periorbital cellulitis almost always improves with treatment. In rare cases, the infection spreads into the eye socket, resulting in orbital cellulitis. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider right away if:The eye becomes red or swollen Symptoms get worse after treatment Fever develops along with eye symptoms It is difficult or painful to move the eye The eye looks like it is sticking (bulging) out There are vision changesOpen ReferencesReferencesDurand ML. Periocular infections. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 116.Olitsky SE, Marsh JD, Jackson MA. Orbital infections. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, ed. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 674.AllVideoImagesTogPeriorbital cellulitis - illustration Periorbital cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye, which may progress to orbital cellulitis with protrusion of the eyeball. Complications include meningitis.Periorbital cellulitisillustrationHaemophilus influenzae organism - illustration This is a Gram stain of spinal fluid from a person with meningitis. The rod-like organisms seen in the fluid are Haemophilus influenzae, one of the most common causes of childhood meningitis (prior to the widespread use of the H influenzae vaccine). The large red-colored objects are cells in the spinal fluid. A vaccine to prevent infection by Haemophilus influenzae (type B) is available as one of the routine childhood immunizations (Hib), typically given at 2, 4, and 12 months.Haemophilus influenzae organismillustrationPeriorbital cellulitis - illustration Periorbital cellulitis is an acute infection of the tissues surrounding the eye, which may progress to orbital cellulitis with protrusion of the eyeball. Complications include meningitis.Periorbital cellulitisillustrationHaemophilus influenzae organism - illustration This is a Gram stain of spinal fluid from a person with meningitis. The rod-like organisms seen in the fluid are Haemophilus influenzae, one of the most common causes of childhood meningitis (prior to the widespread use of the H influenzae vaccine). The large red-colored objects are cells in the spinal fluid. A vaccine to prevent infection by Haemophilus influenzae (type B) is available as one of the routine childhood immunizations (Hib), typically given at 2, 4, and 12 months.Haemophilus influenzae organismillustrationRelated Information Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. 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Periorbital cellulitisPreseptal cellulitisPeriorbital cellulitis is an infection of the eyelid or skin around the eye. Causes Periorbital cellulitis can occur at any age, but more commonly affects children younger than 5 years old.This infection can occur after a scratch, injury, or bug bite around the eye, which allows germs to enter the wound. It can also extend from a nearby site that is infected, such as the sinuses.Periorbital cellulitis is different than orbital cellulitis, which is an infection of the fat and muscles around the eye. In contrast to periorbital cellulitis, orbital cellulitis is a dangerous infection, which can cause lasting problems and deeper infections.Orbital cellulitisOrbital cellulitis is an infection of the fat and muscles around the eye. It affects the eyelids, eyebrows, and cheeks. It may begin suddenly or be...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms include:Redness around the eye or in the white part of the eye Swelling of the eyelid, whites of eyes, and surrounding area This condition usually does not affect vision or cause eye pain. Exams and Tests Your health care provider will examine the eye, especially, eye movements and test for vision, and ask about the symptoms.Tests that may be ordered include:Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count (CBC) Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan of the orbit is an imaging method. It uses x-rays to create detailed pictures of the eye sockets (orbits), eyes and ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRI scanMRI scanA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Antibiotics are given by mouth, by shots, or through a vein (intravenously; IV) to help fight the infection.IntravenouslyIntravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) Periorbital cellulitis almost always improves with treatment. In rare cases, the infection spreads into the eye socket, resulting in orbital cellulitis. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider right away if:The eye becomes red or swollen Symptoms get worse after treatment Fever develops along with eye symptoms It is difficult or painful to move the eye The eye looks like it is sticking (bulging) out There are vision changesOpen ReferencesReferencesDurand ML. Periocular infections. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 116.Olitsky SE, Marsh JD, Jackson MA. Orbital infections. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, ed. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 674.