Orbital cellulitis in adults

[blobby10]

Are there any other people on here who get this? I seem to be getting it much more often and would love some tips on how to prevent it!

For anyone who doesn't know, it's an infection of the skin around the eye (not the eye itself) and progresses very rapidly with swelling and redness around the eye. Needs high dose antibiotics as soon as possible as the infection can travel along the optic nerve to the brain and do all sorts of damage. it also makes you feel really crap.

Do you tend to have recurrent sinus infections or any dental issues?

Is this peri orbital cellulitis if around the eye? I got this and have blepharitis which can cause blockages in eye lid ducts and then infections - treating the blepharitis helps

Cellulitis is utterly miserable, I am currently in bed recovering from a bout, although mine is in my arm.

This year it has reoccurred a number of times. Sorry to be bearer of bad news, but I was told once you have it you are prone to getting it again and again.😣

Last time I tried having a longer course of antibiotics (two weeks rather than one) to really try and knock the infection on the head, although I am guessing this hasn’t worked. The next thing to look at is a long term course of low dose antibiotics, I am not keen at being on antibiotics for months at a time, but may have to reconsider.

Does your doctor or nurse have any suggestions?

Hi @theeyeofdoe I haven’t had any colds or sinus issues for years and no dental problems.

Yes it’s also known as peri-orbital cellulitis. I don’t really have any eye issues except for occasional dry eyes (peri menopause) which eye drops help. I don’t wear make up any more as once it flared up due to rubbing my eye whilst wearing mascara. Most times there is no reason for a flare up and it alternates eyes too! This time I suspect it could have been trauma induced as the dog kicked me in the eye about ten days ago.

So sorry to hear you’re suffering too! I have to get some Strong antibiotics into my system as soon as I feel it swelling up - luckily today I got an appointment with a nurse practitioner within 6 hours but as usual, I know more about it than the doctors do!
the first time I had it was three days before Christmas and I had 3 excited children under 6 - the gp said if I didn’t go home, lie down and rest, I would be in hospital on IV antibiotics over Christmas ! Something to do with the infection travelling along the optic nerve to the brain and causing all sorts of mischief there 😳😳 so I take it very seriously now apart from the fact that the tablets knock me for six as much as the infection does and I feel totally drained for a few days x