Dexamethasone in Orbital Cellulitis (DOC) Trial

Orbital cellulitis is a serious infection that can lead to permanent vision loss and death. Pre-septal cellulitis refers to infection that remains in front of the orbital septum, which can be clinically indistinguishable from orbital cellulitis when severe. Current treatment options for these conditions include intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage. Although these methods are effective, inflammation can often persist for weeks to months. The use of steroids in orbital cellulitis is controversial and practices vary widely. The literature around this remains minimal and there are currently no studies to determine the role of corticosteroids in severe pre-septal cellulitis. We aim to conduct the first comprehensive randomised controlled trial to evaluate the role of corticosteroids in the management of orbital cellulitis and severe preseptal cellulitis. This study will be significant in informing future clinical practice by providing a standardised corticosteroid treatment protocol. Each enrolled participant will be randomised to receive either steroid or placebo and will be required to be followed up for 12 weeks after their initial admission to hospital.?