Sumitra Deb Roy, TNN | Dec 2, 2011, 06.37AM IST
MUMBAI: With the taming of the predominant HIV-1 type, responsible for a majority of the 2.7 million infection cases in the country, experts say it is time to evaluate the incidence and seriousness of the HIV-2 infection. So far, there is little clinical experience or treatment knowledge about the other type of HIV. In the absence of clear protocols from the National Aids Control Organization (Naco), most clinicians are groping in the dark about the treatment regime to be followed.
There is an equal amount of confusion in diagnosis for want of appropriate testing kits. While both HIV- 1 and 2 have similar modes of transmission and could cause similar opportunistic infections, the latter takes longer to manifest.
Studies abroad have shown how people have lived near normal lives for decades without showing any symptoms of illness . However, mothers infected with pure HIV-2 can pass on the infection to their newborns. "Presently, we have nothing very effective to deal with that," said a Naco official who did not wish to be named.
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