Periorbital Cellulitis Complicated with Subperiosteal and Epidural Brain Abscesses in a Pediatric Patient with Bacterial Sinusitis: Case Report

Abstract

Periorbital cellulitis, also known as preseptal cellulitis, is an infection of the anterior region of the lesion, affecting the soft tissues in front of the orbital septum, and is more prevalent in the pediatric population. Approximately 30% of cases of preseptal cellulitis in children were associated with dacryocystitis, sinusitis or upper respiratory infections, with sinusitis being the main cause of cellulitis. Brain abscess is a purulent collection encapsulated in the brain tissue, a rare and serious complication, often associated with sinus infections. In this article, we report the case of a patient treated at the pediatric service of the Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul (HGCS). The patient was an 11-year-old female with periorbital cellulitis complicated by subperiosteal and epidural abscesses associated with complicated bacterial sinusitis. Through the description of this case, we highlight the importance of early diagnosis and an interdisciplinary approach in the management of rare but serious complications of sinusitis in pediatrics, with the aim of making intracranial complications known in patients with complicated sinusitis, even in the absence of evident neurological clinical signs.