Orbital Cellulitis in Children: Experience of the Pediatric Service at Mohammed v Military Hospital

Background: Orbital cellulitis is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency, jeopardizing the vital and functional prognosis. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological, therapeutic and evolutional aspects of orbital cellulitis cases treated at the pediatric service at Mohamed V military hospital. Patients and methods: retrospective study including all the children aged between 1 month and 15 years treated for orbital cellulitis at the pediatric service of the Mohamed V Hospital over a period of 3 years (1st January 2016-31st December 2019). Results: 24 cases of orbital cellulitis were gathered. Age varied between 1 month and 15 years with a median of age of 6. years. Feminine predominance (58%) was noted . The disease mainly involved the sinus (32%).Clinically, fever was present in 10 patients (41%),palpebral edema was universal, proptosis was noted in 5 cases(20.8%),chemosis and ptosis were noted in 4 cases(16.6%),bacteriological testing identified micro-organisms in 3 cases. An orbital CT scan was performed in all cases of our study, showing preseptal cellulitis in 14 cases (58.3%), orbital cellulitis in 3 cases(12.5%),and orbital abscess in 7 cases. The medical treatment consisted of ceftriaxone, metronidazole and aminoside or amoxicilline clavulanic acid, corticosteroid therapy prescribed in 5 cases. Surgical treatment was indicated in 3 patients. The outcome of All cases was favorable. Conclusion: The majority of our cases had a positive evolution highlighting the advantage of an early diagnosis, and adapted antibiotic and a multidisciplinary patient care making the need for surgery rarely necessary.

Saúde e espiritualidade. Contribuição dos presbíteros nos hospitais

Síntese: Este artigo investiga a contribuição potencial do cuidado pastoral prestado nos hospitais por capelães hospitalares, como parte de uma visão integrada de atendimento ao paciente, particularmente em instituições que lidam com doença grave. São necessárias melhorias em várias frentes para profissionalizar a pastoral prestada nos hospitais e modernizar a figura do capelão. Essas melhorias incluem: a melhoria das relações entre os capelães modernos e a organização hospitalar e o mundo científico; mais foco em uma abordagem científica para as suas atividades e sobre a avaliação da eficácia da ação pastoral; maior participação nas equipes multidisciplinares de atendimento ao paciente, das quais os capelães hospitalares são parte integrante.Palavras-chave: Espiritualidade. Hospitais. Promoção da saúde. Pastoral. Teologia.Abstract: This article investigates the potential contribution of the pastoral care provided in hospitals by hospital chaplains, as part of an integrated view of patient care, particularly in institutions dealing with severe disease. Improvements are needed on several fronts to professionalize the pastoral care provided in hospitals and modernize the figure of the chaplain. These improvements include better relations between modern chaplains and the hospital organization and scientific world; more focus on a scientific approach to their activities and on evaluating the efficacy of pastoral care activities; greater involvement in the multidisciplinary patient care teams, of which the hospital chaplains are an integral part.Keywords: Spirituality. Hospitals. Health promotion. Pastoral. Theology.