Eyelid Phlegmon

Expanded infection of the eyelid.

This clinical picture develops because of the expansion of local infections of the eyelids or the eye:

Conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dacryoadenitis, hordeolum etc. or by diversion of bacteria of other regions of the body etc.
Dental abscess, sinusitis etc.

In addition to bacteria, a phlegmon can also be caused by viruses or fungi.

Important symptoms are redness, swelling, pain and fever. Without an adequate therapy, the infection (mostly bacterial) can extend into the orbit. Then, typical complications are meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral thrombosis etc...

A speedy and conservative treatment of the infection by conformable local or systemic pharmaceuticals is very important and mostly successful. If there is a demarcation of an abscess, a surgical treatment has to take place.