Phlegmon eyes: symptoms and treatment

Phlegmon is called diffuse purulent inflammation of fatty tissue.The phlegmon of the eye is a collective concept.A purulent process can be located in the fiber of the orbit, eyelid or lacrimal sac.The phlegmon of the eye is rare, and is a very dangerous pathological condition requiring urgent medical attention.

Table of Contents: Causes of Onset Complications of the phlegmon of the phlegmon of the phlegmon eyelid of the lacrimal sac Diagnosis Treatment

Causes of the

In the appearance of phlegmon, the bacteria are blamed, more often staphylococcus and streptococci, less often E. coli, pneumococci.The bacteria enter the orbital tissue either with blood and lymph flow from purulent foci, or by contact.

Causes leading to the phlegmon of the eye:

• Penetrating trauma to the orbit;
• Foreign body of orbit;Purulent foci and inflammatory processes on the face skin - furuncles, erysipelas;
• Inflammatory process of the eye - barley, dacryocystitis;
• Inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses;
instagram viewer
• Inflammatory focus in the teeth and upper jaw - tooth decay, osteomyelitis of the jaw, periodontal abscess;
• Acute infectious diseases - scarlet fever, typhus;
• Sepsis.

Complications

Ophthalmic phlegmon is a purulent process.The spread of inflammation beyond the eye socket is fraught with the development of dangerous conditions. To complications of phlegmon, the eyes include:

• Vascular thrombosis of the cavernous sinus;
• Brain abscess;
• Meningitis;
• Sepsis;
• Panophthalmit.

Ophthalmic phlegmon

An oropharyngeal phlegmon is a purulent inflammation of the orbital fiber with its subsequent melting.The disease develops acutely - literally in 12-24 hours.Symptoms that occur with the phlegmon of the orbit can be divided into general and local.

Local symptoms are manifested by changes in the area of ​​the affected orbit.The skin around the eye turns red and even turns blue, swells, it feels hot to the touch.Because of the edema of the ophthalmic gland develops exophthalmos - protrusion of the eye, movement is difficult.At the same time, the eyelids are closed, and it is not possible to open them to the person.There are dull pains behind the eye, which are intensified when trying to move the eye and touching the orbit.Vision is greatly reduced.

Common symptoms are a manifestation of the toxic effects of bacteria on the body.With the phlegmon of the orbit, a person feels weak.He is suffering from headaches, as well as fever, chills.

Note: severity of these or other symptoms has a relationship with the patient's age.Thus, children have more general symptoms, and adults - local.

Phlegmon of the century

The inflammatory process can also be localized only in the area of ​​the tissues of the eyelid, without spreading to the entire ophthalmic cellulose.In that case they speak of phlegmon of the century.

For the disease characterized by pronounced reddening and swelling of the eyelid.The skin in the region of the eyelid is stretched, tense.At later stages of the disease, a cavity with liquid contents is formed, which can be determined palpation( a symptom of fluctuations).Through the skin, there is a cluster of yellow pus.The ocular gap is narrowed, vision is severely impaired.

The phlegmon of the eyelid often opens itself with the expiration of purulent contents, as a result of which the swelling and redness of the eyes fall off.But also the probability of spreading the inflammatory process to the venous bed, brain tissue is not ruled out.

The phlegmon of the lacrimal sac

This is nothing but a purulent inflammation of the lacrimal sac and adjacent tissues.In most cases, it develops against the background of purulent dacryocystitis.The disease manifests itself in the form of pronounced painfulness of the lacrimal sac - at the inner corner of the eye.The skin in this area is crimson, edematic, and the edema can spread even on the wings of the nose, eyelids.When you touch the skin, soreness appears.The ocular gap is narrow, lacrimation is observed.

A few days later, an abscess is formed in the inner corner of the eye, which then is often randomly opened.Soon the hole is tightened, but sometimes a fistula is formed, through which tear fluid and pus continue to ooze.

Diagnostics

To determine the diagnosis, the doctor collects anamnestic data, specifies whether inflammatory diseases in the maxillofacial area, examines the organ of vision.

In addition, for differential diagnosis, an x-ray examination of the paranasal sinuses and orbitals is performed.This method helps differentiate the phlegmon with periostitis and detect a foreign body in the orbit.

Treatment of phlegmon eye

If symptoms of phlegmon appear, you need to seek medical help, since this disease poses a threat not only to the eyesight, but to life in general.The purpose of treatment is the elimination of the inflammatory process.To do this, the patient is prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics.In the treatment of phlegmon, the eyes use tetracyclines, penicillins, sulfonamides.According to the indications, detoxification therapy is carried out.

In addition, an autopsy of phlegmon is performed.The resulting cavity is cleaned and drained.Through the formed skin incisions, a turundum moistened with an antibiotic is injected, which is then regularly changed.On top of the wound cover with an aseptic bandage.

At the initial stages it is allowed to apply physiotherapy procedures, namely UHF.The effect of heat helps to limit the purulent process.However, at later stages of the disease, when softening phlegmon is observed, physio procedures are contraindicated.

Grigorova Valeria, medical reviewer