Bacterial infections can affect different parts of the body, including the eye. Cellulitis, a bacterial infection commonly caused by staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria, is a rising problem faced by millions around the world. In 2019 alone, the Global Burden of Disease project estimated that nearly 4.3 crore people were affected by the skin infection, as reported in the study published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases. StatPearls Publishing suggests that more than 1.4 crore cases occur in the United States each year.
Experts note that the condition usually affects the arms and the legs, causing pain, swelling, and redness. But it is not limited to the limbs alone. Dr Basavaraj S Kumbar, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, shares that the condition can also impact the eyes, affecting vision in certain cases.
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How Does Cellulitis Affect The Body?
“Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection that causes redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected area,” says Dr Kumbar, adding that it typically occurs when germs get into the skin through a wound, scrape, or other break in the skin.
In cases of negligence, cellulitis may spread to deeper tissues and even the blood stream, causing serious complications, he warns.
The primary types of cellulitis are facial cellulitis that affects the face, periorbital cellulitis surrounding the eyes, and breast cellulitis. Additionally, there’s also diabetic foot cellulitis that occurs among diabetes patients and necrotising fasciitis, which destroys tissues rapidly as well as severely.
Can Cellulitis Affect The Eyes?
The short answer is yes, says Dr Kumbar.
Mentioning two eye-related cellulitis, he explains, "Periorbital cellulitis involves the eyelids and areas around the eyes, while orbital cellulitis affects the actual socket of an eye. Orbital one is worse because it can cause eye pain, loss of vision, and other permanent damages if not attended to properly."
According to research, periorbital cellulitis can occur at any age, but it is more common in the paediatric population. Additionally, it is more common than orbital cellulitis and has a mortality rate ranging from 5-25% with intracranial complications, which means complications that occur within the skull.
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Common symptoms of cellulitis that occur in the eye include:
- Redness around the eyes
- Eye swelling
- Eye pain
- Difficulty moving the eye
Other affected areas may also showcase symptoms, such as:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Pain in the affected area
You can also develop fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. If cellulitis affects the eyes, symptoms can include
How To Diagnose The Condition
In order to diagnose cellulitis, doctors examine the affected area and may order blood tests or imaging studies to rule out other conditions, says Dr Kumbar.
He shares, “Treatment typically involves antibiotics to fight the infection. For severe cases, hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotics may be necessary. Keeping the affected area clean and elevated can help reduce symptoms.”