METHODS

Design:

randomised controlled trial.

Allocation:

concealed.*

Blinding:

blinded (patients, healthcare providers, data collectors, outcome assessors, and data analysts).*

Follow up period:

7 days for the primary outcome plus an extra 5 weeks to assess relapse.

Setting:

12 primary care practices in Oxfordshire, UK.

Patients:

326 children 6 months to 12 years of age who had acute infective conjunctivitis. Exclusion criteria included an allergy to chloramphenicol, use of an antibiotic (current or within the previous 48 h), evidence of severe infection, and children who were immunocompromised.

Intervention:

0.5% chloramphenicol (preservative free eye drops BP) (n = 163) or placebo (distilled water with the excipients boric acid, 1.5%, and borax, …