Periorbital Cellulitis

Tommy woke up Thursday morning with discharge coming from both his eyes.  Thinking he had double pink eye I searched for some pink eye drops, found none and called the doctor to get him in.  Of course they couldn't get him in Thursday so we made the appointment for first thing Friday.  About dinnertime Thursday around his eyes started to swell and turn red.  He woke up Friday morning and his eyes were sealed shut, it took almost an hour to get him able to open his eyes.  I took Tommy and the other boys to the doctor so we could get drops for everyone, just in case.  The doctor came in took one look at him and said that is definitely not pink eye, checked David and Nathan and then sent them out of the room (luckily my mom was able to meet me at the dr and sat in the waiting room with them).

She told me that he has periorbital cellulitis.  Which is an infection of the eyelid and tissues surrounding the eye.  It is very serious because there is a very thin layer before the infection gets into his eye which goes into his brain.  This infection can very quickly turn to meningitis and become deadly. 

 She wanted to begin treatment very aggressively for him and try to avoid hospitalization.  Which I was all for!!  She gave him a shot, eye creams, and oral antibiotics and told us to come back that afternoon for another shot, and Saturday morning for more.  She started Nathan on antibiotics just in case and gave him eye cream in case he starts to have eye discharge.  

Tommy is doing SO much better right now.  He is still a little red under the eye with a little swelling and still has a little discharge.  He hates having to do his cream and his medicine, but if he is reminded that he can go back to the doctor and get shots or take him medicine/cream he choses to do his meds!