Pinkeye (Head-to-Toe Health)

Marshall Cavendish Benchmark 99 White Plains Road Tarrytown, New York 10591 www.marshallcavendish.us Expert Reader: Leslie L. Barton, MD, Professor Emerita of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona © 2010 Elaine Landau All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holders. All Internet addresses were correct and accurate at the time of printing. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Landau, Elaine. Pinkeye / by Elaine Landau. p. cm. — (Head-to-toe health) Includes bibliographical references and index. Summary: “Provides basic information about pinkeye and its prevention”— Provided by publisher. ISBN 978-0-7614-4609-5 (e-book) 1. Conjunctivitis—Juvenile literature. I. Title. RE320.L36 2010 617.7'73—dc22 2008020939 Editor: Christine Florie Publisher: Michelle Bisson Art Director: Anahid Hamparian Series Designer: Alex Ferrari Photo research by Candlepants Incorporated Cover Photo: Tom Le Goff / DigitalVision / Getty Images The photographs in this book are used by permission and through the courtesy of: Alamy Images: Jupiter Images/Creatas, 4. AP Images: Meigneux/SIPA, 6. Corbis: Visuals Unlimited, 9. Shutterstock: 10. PhotoTakeUSA.com: Bart’s Medical Library, 11; Pulse Picture Library/CMP Images, 13. Photo Researchers Inc.: Mark Clarke, 14; Will & Deni McIntyre, 17; BSIP, 19. Photo Edit Inc: Myrleen Ferguson Cate, 22. Super Stock: Age fotostock, 25. Printed in Malaysia 135642

CONTENTS SOMETHING’S NOT QUITE RIGHT . . . 5 PINKEYE . . . YUCK! . . . 8 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PINKEYE . . . 12 I’VE GOT PINKEYE! . . . 16 I DON’T WANT TO GET PINKEYE! . . . 21 GLOSSARY . . . 27 FIND OUT MORE . . . 28 INDEX . . . 30

SOMETHING’S NOT QUITE RIGHT The alarm clock rings. You’ve got to leave your cozy bed, wash, and get dressed. In an hour you’ll be in school. But something’s not quite right today. Your eyes feel different. When you try to open them, they almost feel pasted shut. You race to the mirror. All you can think is—“Yuck! What’s happened to my eyes?” Some greenish yellow crusty stuff is on your eyelids and lashes. Your eyes feel itchy. You don’t like the way your eyes look also. They’re really red. By now, you’re a little scared. You know how much you need your eyes. You want things to get back to how they were. You call for your mother. You try to keep yourself from crying as you wait for her. Yet after she looks at your eyes, Crusty, itchy, red eyes are signs of pinkeye. 5

y ou k n o w did ? The human eye weighs less than an ounce. That’s not very much. You can find eyes of all sizes in the animal world. A giant squid’s eye ( below ) measures about 18 inches across. That’s broader than a basketball. An ostrich’s eye is only 2 inches across, but that’s still bigger than an ostrich’s brain. Worms have it even worse. They don’t have any eyes at all!

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you feel better. You don’t have a rare deadly disease. You are not going blind either. Your mother says that once you see the doctor, you’ll be fine. She thinks you have a fairly mild condition known as conjunctivitis, or pinkeye. Hearing that, you breathe a sigh of relief. You finally feel better than your eyes look. You know you’ll be okay.

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PINKEYE . . . YUCK ! Okay, you’ve got pinkeye. But what is that anyway? The white part of your eye has turned reddish pink. The inside of your eyelids are red, too. You can have pinkeye in just one eye or in both. THE SCOOP ON PINKEYE Let’s take a closer look at the eye to see what’s happening. The problem starts with the moist layer of tissue that covers the white part of your eyeball. The same type of tissue covers the insides of your eyelids, too. It is known as a mucous membrane. You have mucous membranes in different parts of your body. They line your nose, mouth, lungs, and other areas. The mucous membrane in your eye, however, has a special name. It is known as the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva has an important job to do. It keeps your eyes moist. It also blocks dirt and germs from getting into your eyes.

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This illustration shows the parts of the eye. An infection to the conjunctiva causes pinkeye.

You may get conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, when this membrane becomes infected or irritated. The tiny blood vessels in the conjunctiva become swollen. That makes your eye look very red. In most cases, it does not damage your eye or sight. It usually isn’t very painful either.

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r u e bun n y t a l t a e Do white rabbits really have pink eyes? The answer is no! White, or albino, rabbits lack pigment, or color, in their eyes, skin, and fur. While white rabbits’ eyes may look pinkish red, they are really colorless. You are just seeing the red blood vessels at the back of the eye showing through the iris. The iris is the part of the eye that is usually blue, brown, or another color in humans.

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THE SIGNS OF PINKEYE Pinkeye is easy to spot. The infected eye gets red and itchy. Your eye may feel gritty. It may seem like there are sand grains in your eye that you can’t get out. You’ll want sunglasses if you’re going to be outside on a sunny day. The affected eye may hurt in the bright light. With pinkeye, a sticky, crusty substance may form in your eye as well. It’s worse when you first wake up in the morning. Some people say it feels as if their eyelids are stuck together. HOW BAD IS IT? Pinkeye looks scary because it makes your eyes so red. Yet with most people, pinkeye clears up in a few days to two weeks. Pinkeye isn’t rare. It is the most common eye problem among young people in the United States today.

This child has the tell-tale signs of pinkeye.

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DIFFERENT TYPES OF PINKEYE A few different things can cause pinkeye. Viruses are among them. A virus is a kind of germ. Viruses can’t be seen with the naked eye. They are much too tiny. You need a special microscope id you know? d to see them. Not all bacteria are bad. Some types These tiny are really helpful. Good bacteria live in our troublemakers digestive tracts. They help us digest our food. cannot live on their Scientists use bacteria in helpful ways. They put own. They need to be these tiny germs to work for us. Bacteria are inside a living thing— sometimes used to make medicines and like a human. Once vaccines to fight disease. inside, they multiply.

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Viruses can make you feel very sick. They cause sore throats, measles, chickenpox, and the flu. Viruses also cause the common cold. BACTERIAL PINKEYE Like viruses, bacteria are also germs. They cause a form of pinkeye, too. This is known as bacterial pinkeye. Bacteria are tiny one-celled creatures. Many forms of bacteria can be troublesome. Besides pinkeye, bacteria can cause ear infections, sore throats, and even tooth cavities. Viral and bacterial pinkeye are the most common forms of pinkeye. Both types are alike in some This child’s eyes have a greenish yellow ways. They both are discharge. That means his eyes are infected with bacterial pinkeye. highly contagious.

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That means they can quickly spread or are easy to catch. With viral pinkeye, however, any discharge coming from the eye is usually clear. With bacterial pinkeye, the discharge is usually a greenish yellow color. ALLERGIC PINKEYE Allergic pinkeye is a third type of pinkeye. With allergic pinkeye your eyes can get very watery and itchy. Unlike viral and bacterial pinkeye, you can’t “catch” allergic

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Allergens such as pollen and animal dander can cause allergic pinkeye.

pinkeye from another person. Only people with allergies get it. If you are allergic, your body reacts badly to certain things. You can be allergic to lots of different things. Pollen, dust, and animal dander are just a few. Having an allergy isn’t pleasant. You may find yourself sneezing a lot. You may also have an itchy nose or trouble breathing. CHEMICAL PINKEYE There is still another type of pink eye. It is called chemical pinkeye. Unlike the other types, it is not caused by a germ or any kind of health problem. Chemical pinkeye occurs when an irritating substance gets into your eyes. It may be a household cleaner, chlorine in a swimming pool, or even smoke or smog. BE SURE IT’S PINKEYE You may not always know what type of pinkeye you have. Yet one thing’s certain. If you think you have pinkeye, you need to see a doctor. Sometimes a more serious eye condition may be mistaken for pinkeye. It’s important to be sure. We all need to take good care of our eyes.

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I’VE GOT PINKEYE! Now you’ve got pinkeye Yet don’t you think The whites of your eyes should be white—not pink? Staying healthy includes not getting pinkeye. But sometimes it happens. So what do you do? SEE YOUR DOCTOR If you think you have pinkeye, you should see a doctor. This might be the doctor you usually go to. Or it might be a special type of doctor known as an ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a doctor trained to treat eye problems. The doctor may ask you some questions to learn more about your general health. Your eyes will be examined, or looked at, as well.

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A visit to the doctor is the best action to take if you think you have pinkeye.

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l better faste e e f r to Nope! You can’t snap your fingers and make pinkeye disappear. But you can do some things to feel better. Try placing a clean, cool, wet washcloth on the infected eye. Do this several times a day. Keep it on the eye for ten to fifteen minutes. Be sure to use a fresh, clean washcloth each time you do this, otherwise the germs can be spread. This often lessens the itching. It can bring down the swelling, too. Warm water and a cotton ball can be helpful as well. Gently clean the outside of the infected eye with a damp cotton ball. Do this in the morning and before applying your medicine. This will remove some of the crusty discharge that may be stuck to your lids and lashes. Also, try not to rub your eyes when you have pinkeye. This only irritates your eyes. Then you’ll end up feeling even worse.

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The doctor may also take a sample of the discharge from your eye. This will be sent to a medical laboratory to be tested. The test helps the doctor learn what type of pinkeye you have. BYE-BYE PINKEYE If you have bacterial pinkeye, the doctor may give you antibiotic eyedrops or ointment. These medicines help clear up the infection. The adult taking care of you will help you get the drops into your eyes. Try to sit very still when doing this. Tilt your head back and look up at the ceiling. The adult helping you will gently pull down your lower eyelid and put in the drops. The drops will If you have pinkeye, an adult can help you with the not hurt you. antibiotic eyedrops your doctor will prescribe for you.

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It’s important to take the medicine the doctor gives you. Be sure to take it for as long as it says to on the label. Otherwise your pinkeye could come back. Antibiotic drops are used only for bacterial pinkeye. This medicine will not help if you have viral pinkeye. In such cases, there isn’t much the doctor can do. Usually your eye clears up on its own in time. What if an allergy is causing your pinkeye? The drops used for bacterial pinkeye won’t help with this either. Your doctor, however, may give you another type of eyedrops. You may be given other allergy medicines as well. Having pinkeye can be upsetting. But just try to remember that your eyes won’t always look and feel this way. The best thing about all types of pinkeye is that they don’t last very long.

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I DON’T WANT TO GET PINKEYE! Here’s a true or false question for you: there’s no way to lessen your chances of getting pinkeye. The right answer is false. There are lots of things you can do. You just need to know what they are. PLAY IT SAFE Let’s say your brother has pinkeye. Don’t touch his eye. Not even if he dares you to. Don’t touch any tissues he’s used. The same goes for the cotton balls or washcloths he’s used to clean off his eye. Don’t try on his sunglasses either. It’s easy to get pinkeye that way. You should not share a towel with someone who has pinkeye. You also should not sleep on the same pillow.

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Be sure to wash your hands frequently so you don’t spread pinkeye to others.

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Don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. You are not doing this to be mean. You are just doing what you need to do to stay healthy. WHAT IF YOU HAVE PINKEYE? If you have pinkeye, try to protect your family and friends. If you touch your eye and then hold your friend’s hand, the germs can get on your friend’s hand. Then if your friend touches his or her eyes, your friend can get pinkeye, too. To guard against this, wash your hands often throughout the day. Use plenty of soap and warm water each time. If possible, use paper towels instead of cloth ones to dry your hands with. Another idea is to set aside some cloth towels for only you to use. But use each towel only once. Maybe you only have pinkeye in one eye. If so, try not to spread it to your other eye. Remember to keep your hands away from your face. If you must touch your other eye, wash your hands well first. HOME FROM SCHOOL You can’t go to school if you have pinkeye. That’s because viral and bacterial pinkeye spread so easily. In many places, you will need a doctor’s note to return to school. 23

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Helpful hints you have pinkey n e h e

If you have pinkeye, it’s a good idea to change your pillowcase every night. If you wear contact lenses, don’t wear them while you have pinkeye. Make sure to clean them well before using them again. If you wear soft disposable lenses, throw them out after using them. Do you ever use eye makeup? If so, don’t use it while you have pinkeye even if you only need it for the night of your ballet recital. Using makeup will just make your eyes feel worse. Also, be sure to throw out any other makeup you used while you had pinkeye.

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You won’t miss too much school, however. Usually children can go back to school once they start treatment for pinkeye. If you have bacterial pinkeye, be sure to use your

After a few days of using antibiotic eyedrops, you’ll be out of the “red” and back to school. 25

antibiotic eyedrops right away. After twenty-four hours, you’ll no longer be contagious. Before you know it, you’ll be back at school. Best of all, your health, not your eyes, will be “in the pink.”

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GLOSSARY albino — an animal that lacks color in its eyes, skin, and fur animal dander — the small flakes shed from the skin, hair, or feathers of an animal antibiotic — a drug that kills bacteria and is used to fight infections conjunctiva — the moist layer of tissue covering the inside of the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball conjunctivitis — an inflammation of the moist layer covering the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball contagious — an illness that can spread or is easy to catch discharge — a fluid, other than tears, that drains from the eye mucous membrane — a moist layer of tissue that lines various parts of the body ophthalmologist — a doctor who deals with eyes and eyesight pollen — the tiny yellow grains in flowering plants vaccines — substances given by injections, or shots, to protect people from illnesses

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FIND OUT MORE BOOKS Claybourne, Anna. Microlife: From Amoebas to Viruses. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2004. De Gezelle, Terri. Taking Care of My Eyes. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2006. Favor, Lesli J. Bacteria. New York: The Rosen Group, 2004. Glaser, Jason. Pinkeye. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2005. Mackill, Mary. Seeing. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2006. Nelson, Robin. Seeing and Hearing Well. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Books, 2006. Olien, Rebecca. Seeing. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2006. Weber, Rebecca. Healthy Habits. Mankato, MN: Compass Point, 2004.

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DVDS Brush Up on Hygiene. Human Relations Media, 2007. Healthy Eyes: Eye Care for Kids. Customflix, 2007. Personal Health & Hygiene (Health for Children). Schlessinger Media, 2005.

WEB SITES A Big Look at the Eye www.kidshealth.org/kid/body/eye_noSW.html Visit this Web site to learn all about how your eyes work. Suzy’s World: Eye www.suzy.co.nz/SuzysWorld/Factpage.asp?FactSheet=34 Check out this Web site for lots of interesting info on the eye. There are fun facts, jokes, and experiments.

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INDEX Page numbers in boldface are illustrations. allergic pinkeye, 14–15, 20

diagnosis of pinkeye, 15

antibiotic eyedrops, 19, 19, 20,

discharge, from eyes, 5, 11, 14, 18

25–26 eyedrops, 19, 19–20, 25–26 bacteria, helpful, 12

eyes, about, 6, 8–9, 9, 10

bacterial pinkeye, 13, 13–14, 20 itchiness, eyes and, 5, 11 causes of pinkeye, 8–9, 11, 12–15 chemical pinkeye, 15

makeup, 24

conjunctiva, the, 8–9, 9

mucous membrane, 8

contact lenses, 24 contagious illnesses, 13–14, 21, 23, 25–26

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ophthalmologists, 16

parts of the eye, 8, 9

towels and pillowcases, 21, 23, 24

prevention of pinkeye, 21, 23,

treatment of pinkeye, 15, 16, 18,

25–26

19–20 types of pinkeye, 12–15

recovery time, 11, 25–26 redness, eyes and, 5, 9, 10, 11

vaccines, 12 viruses, 12–13, 20

school, missing, 23, 25–26 symptoms, of pinkeye, 5, 11,

washing hands, 22, 23

11, 14, 13

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Award-winning author Elaine Landau has written more than three hundred books for young readers. Many of these are on health and science topics. For Marshall Cavendish, Landau has written Asthma; Bites and Stings; Broken Bones; Bumps, Bruises, and Scrapes; Cavities and Toothaches; and The Common Cold for the Head-to-Toe Health series. Landau received a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from New York University and a master’s degree in library and information science from Pratt Institute. You can visit Elaine Landau at her Web site: www.elainelandau.com.

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Have your eyes ever become red, swollen, itchy, and crusty? If so, you’ve had pinkeye, one of the most common eye problems a kid can have. In Pinkeye, discover the causes of pinkeye, its symptoms, treatment, and methods of prevention.