ABSTRACT
Sera from 250 patients admitted to Muhimbili hospital in Dar es Salaam; Tanzania; with viral hepatitis were examined for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg); antibodies to hepatitis D (delta) virus; antibodies to hepatitis B virus core and for antibodies to hepatitis A virus; The latter two of the IgM class. Using the ELISA technique; 102 (40.8 percent) of the cases were verified as acute hepatitis B and 16 (6.4 percent) as acute hepatitis A. The aetiology of the remaining 131 (52 percent) of the patients could not be established and was due to either non-A; non-B viruses or other viruses. Only one of the HBsAg positive patients had antibodies to the hepatitis D virus. the results show the necessity of testing for markers of acute hepatitis infection (specific Igm) when acute hepatitis is diagnosed in a community where hepatitis B is endemic
ABSTRACT
Since AIDS and HIV infections were recognised in Tanzania; The prevalence of HIV infections among pregnant women in this country has been increasing. If studies from the Western World show no adverse effects; studies and observation in East and Central Africa indicate adverse pregnancy outcome. There is probably yet undetermined factors operating