HOSA Clinical Nursing Assessment Practice Test

Orbital cellulitis is an infection that affects the tissues surrounding the eye and can present with symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and difficulty moving the eye. When considering other conditions that may exhibit similar symptoms, it’s important to recognize that all listed conditions—conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and styes—can cause inflammation and discomfort around the eye area.

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, leads to inflammation and redness of the conjunctiva, potentially causing discharge and sensitivity. Blepharitis involves inflammation of the eyelid margins, often presenting with redness, crusting, and irritation. A stye, or hordeolum, is a localized infection in the eyelid, resulting in a painful, swollen lump that can also cause redness and tenderness.

Given that each of these conditions shares overlapping symptoms with orbital cellulitis, it's plausible that they could be confused for one another, especially in the early stages of presentation. Thus, recognizing that all these conditions can cause similar ocular symptoms supports the answer indicating that any of them might present alongside or mimic the signs of orbital cellulitis.