Infectious diseases and chronic care in Africa.

We bring you very interesting manuscripts on infectious diseases particularly hepatitis1,2; HIV AIDS3,4 and H1N1 Influenza A virus5 in the context of chronic care in Africa. Burkina Faso researchers report on the diagnostic performance and operational characteristics of four rapid immune-chromatographic syphilis tests6 while Ethiopian scientists report on risk factors for multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients.7 Keeping with the TB theme we have work from Angola on emotional distress among patients with tuberculosis8. In a similar study Sudanese workers give an insight into illness perceptions and quality of life among tuberculosis patients in Gezira9.