Bilateral orbital abscess secondary to pediatric acute rhinosinusitis: a case report and literature review

Abstract

A 13-month-old boy presented with bilateral periorbital swelling accompanied by rhinorrhea and fever. Nasal endoscopy revealed middle meatus edema and purulent discharge. He was diagnosed with bilateral preseptal cellulitis and treated with intravenous antibiotics. Continuous fever and new-onset proptosis with extraocular muscle restriction the next day prompted imaging, which revealed sinusitis with bilateral subperiosteal abscesses. He underwent endoscopic sinus surgery with bilateral abscess drainage and recovered uneventfully. Bilateral orbital complications of acute sinusitis are exceedingly rare occurrences and nearly always require surgical treatment.