Acute ethmoiditis in children

Acute ethmoiditis is an infection of the cells of the ethmoidal labyrinth which exposes to the risk of diffusion of the germ to the orbit and intracranial spaces. This infection can be prognostic both visually functional and vital.It is isolated in children under 3 years of age in older children it is often associated with other sinusitis. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency.It must be suspected in the face of any oedema of the eyelids with local inflammatory signs associated with a fever. CT scans confirm the diagnosis and establish the assessment of the extension of the lesions in order to stage the disease. Management is based on antibiotic therapy adapted to both the stage of the lesion and the germ in question. surgical treatment is reserved for complicated forms. Thanks to good management the prognosis is generally favourable.