Rat bite: an unusual cause of orbital cellulitis

Rat bite is rarely reported in the literature. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman who was bitten by a rat on her upper eyelid. The clinical examination showed a large palpebral edema extending to the side of the face, associated with local signs of inflammation. Visual acuity was preserved and tomodensitometry showed a small exophthalmia that did not extend to the sinuses. This lesion led to a diagnosis of orbital cellulitis. Progression was favorable with antibiotics: amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, gentamicin, and metronidazole. The authors discuss the compromised prognosis of this disease and the necessity of rapid diagnosis and prompt therapeutic management.