HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Active Mono Diagnosed In A Child. Blood Tests Done. High Liver ALT And Sickle Cell Anemia. Advise?

default
Posted on Sun, 8 Jul 2012
Question: My daughter was diagnosed 3 weeks ago with "active mono" but tested negative of the first "spot test" and then the doctor did more extensive tests and she was diagnosed. She is 8 years old. I had "mono/EBV" when I was 14 years old. I am not 38 years old and am having similar symptoms to my daughter. I just received my blood test results but do not know what they mean as I have had mono when I was a teen. They are as follows:

EBV Early Antigen Ab, IgG <0.2 (Normal Range)

EBV Ab VCA, IgG 5.2 (HIGH)

EBV Nuclear Antigen Ab, IgG >8.0 (HIGH)

EBV Interpretation Chart:

VCA-IgM EA-IgG VCA-IgG NA-ABS
Susceptable _ _ _ _

Acute Infection + +or- +or- _

Does this mean that I have "active EBV/mono" or does it mean I had it in the past and I MIGHT have it right now.

Thank you for your help. The only other info you might want to know is that a couple of weeks ago (when my symptoms were worse) I had a high liver (ALT) SPGT count of 59 (High) and now when I just took this test on Thursday the results say that those counts are normal at 32. Everything else on my tests seem to be normal except anemia from having the sickle cell trait.

Thanks, XXXXXXX

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (25 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

The readings provided above say that you had EBV infection in past.There is nothing in the reports which even makes me suspicious that you have the active infection now

I will explain it here.

When ever there is an infection say EBV or hepatitis in active state acquired in recent time the blood tests show positive for antigens (Ag) .Antigens are structural parts of the viruses alive or dying in the blood.These antigens cause inflammation and produce the symptoms.

After a brief period of time the body reacts to the infection by defending it with the help of our immunity in the form of Antibodies (proteins secreted by WBCs). Initially these antibodies will be of IgM type later antibodies of IgG type will be expressed by the immune WBC cells which stays for all life in the blood as a memory of the infection.This memory helps to act instantaneously to kill if encountered same virus in future.Such IgG antibodies will stay positive in the blood al through the life or for many years which when detected give a clue into whether you had such infection in past.Every infection will have their own specific IgG antibodies.

Hence, the symptoms you have now have to be evaluated and cause be found.I do not consider they to be due to EBV history in you.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 4901 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Active Mono Diagnosed In A Child. Blood Tests Done. High Liver ALT And Sickle Cell Anemia. Advise?

Hi,

Thanks for your query.

The readings provided above say that you had EBV infection in past.There is nothing in the reports which even makes me suspicious that you have the active infection now

I will explain it here.

When ever there is an infection say EBV or hepatitis in active state acquired in recent time the blood tests show positive for antigens (Ag) .Antigens are structural parts of the viruses alive or dying in the blood.These antigens cause inflammation and produce the symptoms.

After a brief period of time the body reacts to the infection by defending it with the help of our immunity in the form of Antibodies (proteins secreted by WBCs). Initially these antibodies will be of IgM type later antibodies of IgG type will be expressed by the immune WBC cells which stays for all life in the blood as a memory of the infection.This memory helps to act instantaneously to kill if encountered same virus in future.Such IgG antibodies will stay positive in the blood al through the life or for many years which when detected give a clue into whether you had such infection in past.Every infection will have their own specific IgG antibodies.

Hence, the symptoms you have now have to be evaluated and cause be found.I do not consider they to be due to EBV history in you.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,