Orbital Cellulitis Causes & Risks

Causes

There are several common causes of orbital cellulitis:

• Infections that spread from areas around the eye including:
  • Sinuses (this is the most common reason)
  • Mouth and teeth
  • Face
• Infections that spread from the bloodstream
• Injury or surgery in the area
• Stye on the eyelid
• Bug bite or sting to the eyelid

Children are at high risk of severe infections from orbital cellulitis that could result in blindness. For this reason, they should be given immediate medical attention. In young children, the infection is often caused by a sinus infection due to a organism called Haemophilus influenzae .

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases the chance of getting a disease or condition. Some risk factors for orbital cellulitis include:

• Injury to the eyelid
• Sinus infection
• Dental infection