No racial or gender predilection exists for adults. However, children are twice as likely as adults to develop periorbital and orbital cellulitis. In children, males are twice as likely to develop the condition as females.[1]Robinson A, Beech T, McDermott AL, et al. Investigation and management of adult periorbital or orbital cellulitis. J Laryngol Otol. 2007;121:545-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17164026?tool=bestpractice.com
[2]Hamed-Azzam S, AlHashash I, Briscoe D, et al. Common orbital infections ~ state of the art ~ part I. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2018 Apr-Jun;13(2):175-82.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5905312
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29719647?tool=bestpractice.com
Periorbital cellulitis is more common than orbital cellulitis.[3]Georgakopoulos CD, Eliopoulou MI, Stasinos S, et al. Periorbital and orbital cellulitis: a 10-year review of hospitalized children. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2010 Nov-Dec;20(6):1066-72.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544674?tool=bestpractice.com
Before the routine use of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination, the incidence of periorbital cellulitis associated with Hib bacteremia was reported to be as high as 80%.[4]Ambati B, Ambati J, Azar N, et al. Periorbital and orbital cellulitis before and after the advent of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination. Ophthalmology. 2000;107:1450-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10919886?tool=bestpractice.com
Since the introduction of the Hib vaccination, this is extremely rare.[4]Ambati B, Ambati J, Azar N, et al. Periorbital and orbital cellulitis before and after the advent of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination. Ophthalmology. 2000;107:1450-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10919886?tool=bestpractice.com
Orbital cellulitis is more common in winter months worldwide because of the increased risk of sinusitis.[5]Shih EJ, Chen JK, Tsai PJ, et al. Differences in characteristics, aetiologies, isolated pathogens, and the efficacy of antibiotics in adult patients with preseptal cellulitis and orbital cellulitis between 2000-2009 and 2010-2019. Br J Ophthalmol. 2023 Mar;107(3):331-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34607790?tool=bestpractice.com
Estimates of incidence of orbital cellulitis in children range from 1.6 to 9.29 per 100,000 population depending on setting.[6]Murphy C, Livingstone I, Foot B, et al. Orbital cellulitis in Scotland: current incidence, aetiology, management and outcomes. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014 Nov;98(11):1575-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24939424?tool=bestpractice.com
[7]A. Soroudi, R. Casey, D. Pan, et al. An epidemiologic survey of orbital cellulitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 May; 44(13):786.
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2412865
[8]Bal M, Sanjay C, Vivek B, et al. Orbital cellulitis - incidence, management and outcome from coastal hospitals. J. Pediatr. Crit. CARE. 2019 May-Jun; 6(3): 25-30.
https://journals.lww.com/JPCR/fulltext/2019/06030/Orbital_Cellulitis___Incidence,_Management_and.3.aspx