Exteriorized acute ethmoiditis in a rural child: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Acute ethmoiditis (AE) in children mainly concerns the ethmoid sinus. It is often diagnosed after its externalization. It is a serious infection, whose ocular and endocranial complications can jeopardize the visual and vital functional prognosis. The treatment is essentially medical based on the combination of antibiotics. Case Report: Description of a case of ethmoiditis in a 3-year-old child consulting for eyelid edema that progressed within five days. The general condition was altered by a fever of 38.5°C, with an unwell appearance and left eyelid edema with a tendency to reduction of the eyelid fissure was noted. The ear, nose, throat (ENT) examination showed left perinasal swelling affecting the nasal pyramid, the zygomatic arch, and the left periorbital region. The left nasal cavity was of reduced caliber with the presence of mucopurulent secretions through the ipsilateral nostril orifice. Acute externalized ethmoiditis was made as a clinical diagnosis. The clinical evolution was good under antibiotic therapy for 15 days with parenteral ceftriaxone which will be relayed by amoxi-clavulanic ac orally on the seventh day; parenteral metronidazole with a PO relay on the fifth day; parenteral dexamethasone and paracetamol for five days; argyrol nasally for seven days. Conclusion: Acute ethmoiditis remains an infantile pathology with multiple neighborhood and remote complications, including periorbital and endocranial cellulitis involving vital and visual prognosis.