Complications of acute sinusitis in children.
OBJECTIVE
To review the demographic, microbiologic, and outcome data for children with complications of acute sinusitis.


METHODS
Retrospective review of children admitted with complications of acute sinusitis from January 1995 to July 2002 to a tertiary care children's hospital.


RESULTS
One hundred four patients were reviewed with the following complications: orbital cellulitis (51), orbital abscesses (44), epidural empyemas (7), subdural empyemas (6), intracerebral abscesses (2), meningitis (2), cavernous sinus thrombosis (1), and Pott's puffy tumors (3). Sixty-six percent were males (P < 0.001), and 64.4% presented from November to March (P < 0.001). Patients with isolated orbital complications were younger than patients with intracranial complications (mean, 6.5 versus 12.3 years), had a shorter stay (mean, 4.2 versus 16.6 days), and had shorter duration of symptoms (mean, 5.4 versus 14.3 days; all P < 0.0001). Complete resolution was documented for 54/55 patients with restricted ocular motility, 7/8 with visual loss, 3/3 patients with a nonreactive pupil, 7/7 with neurological deficits, and 2/4 with seizures. The most common organism isolated was Streptococcus milleri (11/36 patients with surgical cultures). No mortalities occurred, and persistent morbidity occurred in 4 patients (3.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite significant deficits on presentation, permanent morbidity was low. Streptococcus milleri is a common pathogen with complications of sinusitis in children.
Oxford
Lance E
LE
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75390-9035, USA.
McClay
John
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D034364:Streptococcus milleri Group; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*