About this topic
Cellulitis is an infection of your skin and the layers below your skin. Orbital cellulitis involves the area around and in the eye. Germs can enter your body through the skin from a cut, scratch, or bite. They may cause pain, swelling, and redness around your eye. Orbital cellulitis can be treated by drugs, like antibiotics. A surgical procedure to drain the infection out may be needed. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Wash your hands before and after touching the area.
- Keep the affected area clean and dry. Do not squeeze, scratch, or rub the affected area.
- Wash the area with soap and water. Pat dry. Do not rub.
- Apply warm compresses to help relieve pain and swelling. Wet a clean wash cloth or small towel and put it on the area for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Put clean dressings or bandages on the area as directed by your doctor.
- Your doctor may put an eye patch over the affected eye.
- Ask your doctor when it is safe to take a bath or shower.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your doctor may send you to an eye doctor. This is an ophthalmologist.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Your activity may be limited due to pain and swelling. You may have trouble seeing well until the treatment starts to work. This may limit your ability to drive or focus on work. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection in the blood. This is sepsis.
- Drooping eyelid
- Loss of eyesight
- Need for surgery if infection does not get better
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Avoid injury to the eyes.
- Do not go swimming if you have an injury around the eyes.
- A vaccine can prevent orbital cellulitis for children. Ask your doctor about it.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or wound that will not heal.
- Pain, redness, and swelling of the eye
- Eye tearing
- Trouble with eyesight
- Feeling tired
- Very bad headache
- Pain in the neck
- Confusion
- Throwing up
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my eye.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more problems with my eye, a bad headache, or neck pain.
Where can I learn more?
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus ‚
http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/32 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚