Preseptal Cellulitis

When a child has redness and swelling around the eye, without the eyeball itself being affected, it may be preseptal cellulitis. It is an infection of the tissues of the eyelid and the skin surrounding the eye, located in front of the septum that separates that area from the internal structures.

Common symptoms: swelling and redness of the eyelid, tenderness to the touch, local warmth and, occasionally, fever.

When to seek care promptly? If the eye hurts when moving, there is bulging, or vision changes, urgent evaluation is required to rule out deeper forms.

Who treats it? The ophthalmologist and the pediatrician evaluate the area and define the appropriate follow-up. With swelling and redness around the eye, especially in children, seeking care without delay is most advisable.