ABSTRACT: Pre-septal and orbital cellulitis are more commonly seen in children than in adults. The incidence of pediatric orbital cellulitis is 1.6 in 100,000. The impact of COVID-19 has led to the increasing practice of nasopharyngeal swab surveillance. We presented a case of rare pediatric orbital cellulitis complicated with subperiosteal abscess secondary to severe acute sinusitis following a nasopharyngeal swab. A 4-year-old boy was brought in by his mother with increasing painful left eye swelling and redness. Three days prior, the patient developed a fever and mild rhinitis with loss of appetite which raised concerns about COVID-19. He had a nasopharyngeal swab on that same day and tested negative. Clinically, there was marked erythematous and tender periorbital and facial oedema involving the left nasal bridge, maxilla extended to the left upper lip with a deviation of the left nasal tip contralaterally. Computed tomography confirmed left orbital cellulitis with left eye proptosis, fullness of left maxillary and ethmoidal sinuses and left subperiosteal abscess. The patient received empirical antibiotics and surgical intervention promptly and recovered well with improvements in ocular symptoms. The nasal swabbing techniques may vary among practitioners, and it is associated with extremely low risks of severe complications from 0.001% to 0.16%. Whether the swab had aggravated the underlying rhinitis or traumatized the turbinates leading to sinus drainage obstruction; a nasal swab may impose the risk of severe orbital infection in a susceptible pediatric patient. Any health practitioner conducting the nasal swab should be vigilant about this potential complication.
DESIGN/METHODS: A non-randomized prospective study was conducted for various types of pterygium excision with superior bulbar conjunctival autograft (CAG) and fibrin glue. We introduced fluorescein staining to ensure thorough elimination of the Tenon tissue around the bare sclera area and the CAG. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate, and the secondary outcome was any complication associated with fluorescein staining.
RESULTS: Ninety-three participants with primary pterygium of Grades 1-3 were recruited and all completed follow-up for at least 1 year. No recurrence was identified during the follow-up period and no long-term adverse reactions were reported with the "hydro-fluorescein" method.
CONCLUSION: "Hydro-fluorescein" is effective and a safe adjunct in primary pterygium removal and is effective in various grades of pterygia to minimize recurrence with no adverse reaction within 1 year.