A Study to Assess the Effect of Health Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Hepatitis a among Food Handlers Who Residing in Anand District

Abstract

Hepatitis A, A Term First Introduced In 1967, Is Known To Be A Liver Infection Caused By Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Whose Primary Replication Site Is In The Hepatocytes (Krugman Et Al.., 1967). HAV Is A Positive Sense, Single Stranded RNA Virus That Belongs To The Family Of Picornavaridae And Is The Unique Member Of The Genus Hepato Virus. Unlike The Other Member Of Family, HAV Requires A Long Adaptation Period To Grow In Cell Culture, Replicates Slowly And Rarely Produces A Cytopathic Effect (Cromeans Et Al., 1987; Lemon 1992) African Green Monkey Kidney Cells Or Fetal Rhesus Kidney Cells Are Commonly Used For Culturing The Virus Although Many Different Cell Types Are Suitable. The Genome Of The HAV Is Approximately 7.5 Kb, Consists Of A Highly Conserved 5’ End Non Translated Region (NTR) And Has A Covalently Linked Virus Specific Protein Instead Of A Cap Structure. Hepatitis A Suspected When A Person Gives The History Of Fever, Headache, Myalgia, Photophobia, Chills, Malaise, Nausea, And Anorexia And Epigastric Pain For 4 To 5 Days. It Is Since Turned Afebrile And Now Passes Dark Colored Urine And Clay Colored Stools. He Complains Of Generalized Itching. His Eyes, Tounge, Nail And Later Whole Body Are Yellowish. On Physical Examination Of The Patient, Jaundice, Tender And Enlarged Liver, And Some Time Lymphadenopathy Are Found. Laboratory Investigation Reveal Serum Bilirubin Of 1 Mg % Or More (Normal,0.3 To 0.5 Mg %) And Aspartate Aminotransferase And Alanine Aminotransferase Levels Of 300 IU/L (Normal 5 To 30 IU/L). The Diagnosis Is Confirmed By Demonstrating, In Paired Sera, A Rising Titer Of Anti-HA Antibodies. HA Is A Benign Condition. After 2 To 3 Weeks Of Illness And A Prolonged Convalescence Recovery Occurs.