Aim To identify the predictors of poor outcome and need for surgical management in paediatric patients with periorbital cellulitis. To assess the adherence to local guidelines in the management of periorbital cellulitis. Methods Retrospective descriptive analysis of clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of 175 paediatric periorbital cellulitis presentations at a UK teaching hospital over a 10‐year period. Regression investigated correlations for continuous and categorical variables. Results A total of 175 paediatric presentations were diagnosed as periorbital infections over the 10‐year period. Of these, 139 had pre‐septal cellulitis, 27 had a subperiosteal abscess, 6 had an orbital cellulitis, 1 had an orbital abscess, 1 a cavernous sinus thrombosis and 1 an extradural abscess. Median age at presentation was 5 years (range: 1 month–17 years). In total, 169 (97%) cases received systemic antimicrobial treatment. Cross‐sectional imaging occurred in 30% of cases and 18% required surgical intervention. Increasing C‐reactive protein was associated with greater risk of post‐septal disease and requiring surgery. The best predictors of post‐septal disease in the multivariate analysis (R2 = 0.49, P = ≤0.001) were ophthalmoplegia (P = 0.009), proptosis (P = 0.016) and pain on eye movement (P = 0.046). Proptosis was the single most significant predictor of surgical management (R2 = 0.53, P = <0.001). Conclusion Multidisciplinary involvement and early medical management can improve outcomes for most patients. Those who deteriorate despite medical management should be considered for prompt imaging and surgical management to avoid serious life‐threatening or sight‐threatening complications.

The location of the throat pack does not affect the early postoperative throat pain. The nasopharyngeal pack is a safe alternative for the hypopharyngeal pack if throat packing is indicated. There is a need for review of the available current evidence on throat packs and more adequately powered randomised controlled trials on a larger scale of participants.

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