back to Australia directory
australia clinical guidance

Infective conjunctivitis (adults + children)

A chapter-bounded Australian summary of infective conjunctivitis (adults + children), using exact named Queensland PCCM content and any exact national source listed on this page.

JurisdictionAustralia
Source check2026-08-20
Clinical reviewiatroX editorial team · Clinical editorial review · reviewed 2026-08-20 · due 2027-08-20
AudienceHealthcare professionals practising in Australia
This is an iatroX educational summary of named Australia sources, not an official guideline. It does not replace the complete source documents, local policy, specialist advice or clinical judgement. Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis is a Queensland implementation source. Apply only the cited chapter scope and verify the equivalent state or territory pathway.

Scope

Recognition and initial management of conjunctivitis under the exact Queensland PCCM adult and child chapter. Painful or vision-threatening red eye is outside simple conjunctivitis care.
sources for this section:Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis

The Bottom Line

  • Conjunctivitis may cause irritated red eyes, watery, mucous or purulent discharge and eyelid crusting.
  • Viral conjunctivitis is common, can spread from one eye to both and is usually self-limiting.
  • Discharge pattern and exposure help the differential, but eye pain, photophobia or reduced vision requires another pathway.
  • Antimicrobial eye treatment should be reserved for the chapter-supported bacterial presentation and current local policy.
sources for this section:Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis

Practical clinical workflow

1
Ask about onset, contacts, respiratory illness, contact lenses, trauma, chemical exposure, pain, photophobia and vision change.
2
Check visual acuity where possible and examine pupils, cornea, discharge and surrounding tissues.
3
Provide hand hygiene, avoidance of shared towels and appropriate eye-cleaning advice and explain the expected course.
4
Review lack of improvement and recurrent disease for incorrect diagnosis, chlamydial infection, lid disease or corneal involvement.
sources for this section:Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis

Safety boundaries and escalation

  • Reduced vision, severe pain, photophobia, corneal opacity, contact-lens-related pain or chemical injury requires urgent ophthalmic assessment.
  • Neonatal conjunctivitis and suspected gonococcal or chlamydial disease require age- and infection-specific urgent pathways.
sources for this section:Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis

Implementation

Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis is a Queensland source. It supplies an Australian implementation example, not a national rule. Confirm the equivalent pathway, referral destination and medicine policy in the patient’s state or territory. Check current TGA product information for medicines. Offer culturally safe care and use the NACCHO–RACGP National Guide where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventive or chronic-care recommendations differ.
sources for this section:Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis

Clinical use boundary

This independently written summary is not an official guideline. Check the linked source version, current TGA-approved product information where medicines are involved, and the applicable state, territory and local pathway at the point of care.

sources for this section:Queensland PCCM conjunctivitis

Source documents

Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.

  1. Queensland Health and Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland SectionPrimary Clinical Care Manual, 12th edition: Conjunctivitis — adult and childISBN 978-1-876560-22-5; Conjunctivitis — adult and child, pp. 278–281 · 12th edition 2025, v1.03 with updates through 21 July 2026; exact chapter at printed pages 278–281 · accessed 2026-08-20
    view source
continue the learning

From guidance to deliberate practice and evidence

Choose what happens next. iatroX can carry this page's jurisdiction, source-check date and released version into an editable learning record, support your reflection, or let you browse the regional question bank while keeping this topic visible. No action records completion, starts a session or awards CPD/CME credit automatically.

Add this guidance review to CPD/CMEOpen an editable learning-log record with this page’s provenance attached. You confirm the activity, time, reflection and mappings.Reflect on this with TutorUse optional prompts to consider what you learned and what—if anything—you may change. Suggestions are never inserted automatically.Browse the Australia question bankKeep this guidance topic in view, then choose your exam and filters. No session starts automatically.
Found a source update or regional discrepancy? Tell the iatroX editorial team.