Herpes zoster as an indicator of HIV infection in Africa.

In areas where resources for health information are limited, the incidence of herpes zoster can usefully be monitored as an indicator of HIV infection. A sudden parallel rise of the number of symptomatic HIV cases and herpes zoster cases was observed in a northern district of Zimbabwe. Herpes zoster was made locally reportable.

Pattern of HIV-infection in Hurungwe district, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe.

After the first case of HIV-infection had been diagnosed in 1986 in a Northern district of Zimbabwe, a local hospital based surveillance system, was introduced. In order to monitor the spread of the epidemic in the district, residence, age, sex and clinical presentation of all newly diagnosed HIV-patients were recorded. After three years, the data were compiled and analysed with the following results.