Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2001 Nov;8(2):234-240. 10.14776/kjpid.2001.8.2.234.

A Case of Buccal Cellulitis Caused by Haemophilus influenzae Type b in an Immunocompetent Child

• Lee JA
• Kim DH
• Koo JW
• Lee HJ

• KMID: 2440191
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/kjpid.2001.8.2.234

Abstract

Buccal cellulitis which presents with high fever and a swelling of the cheek with violaceous hue in young children is most often caused by H. influenzae. Bacteremia is common in buccal cellulitis caused by H. influenzae, and a culture of cerebrospinal fluid should be obtained because meningitis may be present despite the lack of meningeal irritation signs. Although buccal cellulitis is considered to be one of the important manifestations of H. inf luenzae infection, only two cases have been reported in Korea yet. We experienced a case of buccal cellulitis with H. influenzae bacteremia in an immunocompetent girl of 18-month-old. She was presented with high fever followed by rapidly progressive swelling and tenderness of both cheeks with violaceous hue in four hours. The blood culture revealed H. influenzae type b. There was no concurrent otitis media, sinusitis, or meningitis and no portal of entry was identified. Fever subsided two days after starting intravenous cefotaxime. Intravenous cefotaxime was subsequently changed to oral cefixime, and antibiotics were administered for a total of two weeks. We report this case with a review of related literature.

Keyword

Haemophilus influenzae; Buccal cellulitis

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacteremia
Cefixime
Cefotaxime
Cellulitis*
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cheek
Child*
Female
Fever
Haemophilus influenzae type b*
Haemophilus influenzae*
Haemophilus*
Humans
Infant
Influenza, Human
Korea
Meningitis
Otitis Media
Sinusitis
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cefixime
Cefotaxime