Periorbital complications as a result of rhinosinusitis in a pediatric patient. Case report.

Abstract

Introduction. Acute rhinosinusitis is a very common disease in children, however, its complications occur much less frequently. The most common complication of rhinosinusitis is periorbital cellulitis, and its manifestations include subperiosteal abscess of the orbit. Case report. We present a case of a 3-year-old boy with a preexisting bilateral exophtalmia, who was treated twice for periorbital cellulitis in the course of acute rhinosinusitis. During the first episode, an orbital abscess occurred and was subsequently treated with external ethmoidectomy. The second episode was treated conservatively. In computed tomography, a potential dehiscence of lamina papyracea was identified as the reason for recurrent periorbital complications. The patient underwent planned adenoidectomy and endoscopic sinus surgery. He currently remains under the care of the Department. No recurrence of complicated rhinosinusitis have been diagnosed. Conclusions. Periorbital complications, which are considered an emergency in otorhinolaryngology, should be immediately treated in hospital conditions. Dehiscence of lamina papyracea may predispose to periorbital complications in children with acute rhinosinusitis. Special caution should be exercised when diagnosing patients with preexisting exophtalmia reporting with orbital complications of rhinosinusitis.