Hypopyon and orbital cellulitis associated with Haemophilus influenzae type B meningitis. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications

J. Gomez-Barreto and A. J. Nahmias

Three children, 8 months to 2 years of age, demonstrated unusual manifestations in association with Haemophilus influenzae septicemia and meningitis. After one child had been diagnosed as having orbital cellulitis in conjunction with H influenzae meningitis, a second child, with orbital cellulitis and no clinical evidence of meningitis, had a lumbar tap indicative of a meningitis. A third child developed a hypopyon in association with H influenzae meningitis and septic arthritis of several joints. We report the problem of diagnosis and treatment of orbital cellulitis in the context of our cases and those previously reported.