Prior antibiotic therapy for acute sinusitis in children and the development of subperiosteal orbital abscess

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of pre-hospitalization antibiotic use in children developing a subperiosteal orbital abscess (SPA) as a complication of acute sinusitis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Ten-year retrospective chart review in a tertiary pediatric center of children under the age of 18 years requiring operative drainage of a SPA as a complication of acute sinusitis. RESULTS: There were 39 children (M 25; F 14). Ten children (26%) received antibiotic therapy prior to admission, for a median duration of 1.6 days. On presentation, 72% had rhinorrhea and/or fever, for average durations of 3.9 and 2.5 days, respectively. Streptococcal species sensitive to penicillin were grown from 51%..