Clinical and economic burden of preseptal cellulitis in children: a 6-year review
Turkish Journal of Pediatrics, cilt.68, sa.1, ss.79-86, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 68 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.6660
- Dergi Adı: Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.79-86
- Anahtar Kelimeler: antibiotic, hospital cost, sinusitis
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background. Children diagnosed with preseptal cellulitis frequently require hospitalization, leading to both clinical management challenges and substantial healthcare-related costs. The condition often necessitates intravenous antibiotic therapy, radiological imaging, laboratory tests, consultations, and inpatient care, which collectively contribute to the overall economic burden. However, data on the clinical characteristics and cost distribution among pediatric patients remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate both the clinical and economic burden of preseptal cellulitis in hospitalized children and to identify the clinical factors influencing healthcare costs. Methods. This retrospective study included children aged 1 month to 18 years who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of preseptal cellulitis between January 2019 and December 2024. Patients were grouped according to age and presence of predisposing factors. Length of stay, total hospital costs, and cost components were analyzed based on clinical characteristics. Results. A total of 166 patients were included (mean age: 70.1 ± 46.9 months; 62% male). The most common findings were periorbital swelling (96.4%) and erythema (75.3%). Median length of stay was 5 days, with no significant differences by age, sex, or predisposing factors (p>0.05). However, a strong positive correlation was found between length of stay and total cost (rho=0.775, p<0.001). The total hospital expenditure was 25,412.95 USD, with antibiotics accounting for the largest share (48.3%). Sinusitis and odontogenic infections were significantly associated with higher costs (p=0.007 and p=0.030). In multivariable analysis, length of stay, age, and odontogenic infection emerged as independent determinants of total cost, with costs increasing by approximately 15% per additional hospital day, 0.2% per month of age, and 25% in the presence of odontogenic infection. Conclusion. Developing standardized treatment protocols and promoting rational antibiotic use are critical for optimizing healthcare resource utilization and preventing antibiotic resistance.