Differential Diagnosis for Eye Pain with Movement and Strep Infection
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Periorbital Cellulitis: This condition is a common complication of strep infections, especially in children. It involves an infection of the skin and tissues around the eye, which can cause pain, especially with eye movement. The recent strep infection increases the likelihood of this diagnosis.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Conjunctivitis: Although more commonly associated with viral infections, conjunctivitis can also be caused by streptococcal bacteria. It leads to eye pain, redness, and discharge, and movement of the eye can exacerbate the discomfort.
- Orbital Cellulitis: Similar to periorbital cellulitis but involves the tissues within the orbit. It's a serious condition that can follow a strep infection and causes severe eye pain, especially with movement, along with proptosis and limited eye movement.
- Streptococcal Blepharitis: An infection of the eyelids that can cause pain, redness, and swelling. While it might not directly cause pain with eye movement, the associated conjunctivitis or corneal involvement could lead to such symptoms.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis: A rare but potentially life-threatening complication of facial or orbital infections, including those caused by streptococcal bacteria. It presents with severe headache, eye pain (especially with movement), proptosis, and cranial nerve palsies.
- Endophthalmitis: A severe inflammation of the interior of the eye, usually caused by infection. It's a medical emergency that can result from bacterial infections, including streptococcal species, and presents with severe eye pain, vision loss, and redness.
Rare Diagnoses
- Sympathetic Ophthalmia: A rare, bilateral granulomatous uveitis that can occur after penetrating eye injury or surgery. Although not directly linked to strep infections, any condition causing significant eye inflammation could potentially trigger this rare condition.
- Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome: A rare disorder characterized by severe and unilateral headaches with extraocular palsies, often due to nonspecific inflammation of the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure. It could be considered in the differential for eye pain with movement, though it's not typically associated with strep infections.