Parents and early childhood educators are often in the position of having to determine whether a child’s health is at the acceptable level to attend child care, or whether they should be sent home in order to prevent the spread of their illness/condition.

This can sometimes be a difficult decision in the absence of medical advice. In the event that a child is showing possible signs of conjunctivitis, parents and educators need to be aware of the various causes and symptoms, and how to treat the condition.

Dr Jo Richards MBChB, MMed, FCOphth(SA), FRANZCO has provided the advice below, to serve as a guide to parents and early child educators when dealing with children who are displaying the symptoms of conjunctivitis. Dr Richards is a consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Perth Hospital and in private practice at Western Eye. 

Please note that this information is intended as a guide for parents and early childhood educators. If in doubt, always consult with a medical practitioner.

The Australian Government’s “Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services” guidelines are available online at http://bit.ly/StayingHealthyECE .