A Child With Unilateral Conjunctivitis and Elevated Inflammatory Markers

A previously healthy 12-year-old boy presented to an outside hospital for fever, headache, and unilateral red eye with periorbital edema. He received oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 2 days of intravenous clindamycin phosphate and ceftriaxone sodium. On transfer to our institution for failure to improve and concern for orbital cellulitis, results of examination by the ophthalmology service revealed a unilateral hemorrhagic conjunctivitis without orbital signs, and computed tomography showed mild preseptal edema. The patient was discharged with a tentative diagnosis of viral conjunctivitis.