This is a medical emergency.

Suspect in all patients who have painful proptosis (protrusion of the eye) and fever. In majority of patients, the illness is secondary to infection of paranasal sinuses. The infection may rapidly spread to the brain (carvenous sinus thrombosis and brain abscess) or lead to septicaemia.

Investigation

• X-ray paranasal sinuses

Management

• Monitor vital signs closely

• Start patients on crytalline penicillin, chloramphenicol and metronidazole

Refer

• Urgently to Eye specialist.