<abstract>
<p>Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterised by production of autoantibodies against platelet surface antigens. Recent studies have demonstrated a paramount association of ITP and <italic>Helicobacter pylori (H-pylori)</italic> infection with significant rise in platelet count following <italic>H-pylori</italic> eradication therapy. The <italic>H-pylori</italic> infection induced ITP is validated by many proposed mechanisms such as molecular mimicry due to production of autoantibodies against <italic>H-pylori</italic> surface virulent factors (CagA) and cross reactivity of these antibodies with platelet surface antigens (GP IIb/IIIa, GP Ib/IX, and GP Ia/IIa), phagocytic perturbation due to enhanced phagocytic activity of monocytes, enhanced dendritic cell numbers and response, platelets aggregation due to presence of anti- <italic>H-pylori</italic> IgG and von Willebrand factor (vWf) and finally host immune response against <italic>H-pylori</italic> virulent factors CagA and VacA leading to ITP. The effectiveness of <italic>H-pylori</italic> eradication therapy has also been demonstrated with platelet count being used as a predictive factor for assessment of treatment efficacy. Out of 201 patients 118 were responding to the triple therapy and remaining 83 patients were non-responders, showing the response rate of 58.7%. Out of 118 responders 69 patients were showing complete response (CR) and 49 were showing partial response (PR) to the <italic>H-pylori</italic> eradication therapy. However, more studies are required to elucidate this association and treatment efficacy.</p>
</abstract>
Objective: Despite remarkable progress in scientific methods and measures against infectious disease transmission, the prevalence of infectious diseases is still on the rise in resource-poor countries. Hand hygiene is considered an effective way of fighting against deadly infectious diseases. Our study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and hand hygiene practices among mothers of children presenting for routine paediatric check-up in the department of paediatrics in a tertiary care hospital of Rawalpindi.Materials and Methods: It’s a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 400 mothers from the paediatric department of the Holy family hospital (HFH), Rawalpindi. A convenient sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire that included demographic details, knowledge, attitude, and practice levels were assessed through validated questionnaires used in previously published studies. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic details and chi-square analysis was used to find an association between handwashing practice with knowledge and attitude. A P<0.05 was taken as significant. Data analysis was done through SPSS.v.23.Results and Discussion: In total, 400 females participated in the study and the mean age (±SD) was 32.4±10.2 years. The mean age of children was 31.2±12.2 months. The level of good handwashing knowledge and attitude was 93% and 60% respectively. However, the level of good handwashing practice was just 40%. The age of mothers, residential area, occupation, socioeconomic status, and the level of knowledge regarding handwashing, showed significant association with handwashing practices.Conclusion: In our study handwashing practice among mothers was relatively low. Age of mothers, residential area, occupation, socioeconomic status, and the level of knowledge regarding handwashing, were significantly associated with handwashing practices.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 05 No. 04 October’21 Page: 418-423
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