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What Do These Following Lab Reports Indicate?
Question: I have lab results and I would like your diagnosis. I want to see if you say the same thing as my physician. I just don't feel like my results are correct.
Brief Answer:
either reactivation or past infection...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the negative IgM is against recent infection, since this is the first antibody to become positive in recent infection (when all the rest are still negative).
The early antigen Ab becomes positive with active replication of the virus but it may remain positive for life in some individuals so an individual with past infection may have it positive even after complete resolution of the disease.
The nuclear antigen Ab remains positive after infection and stays positive. It develops late (the last one to become positive) so it's an mainly an indicator of past infection.
So in conclusion the combination of negative IgM and positive EBNA indicate past infection. The presence of IgG is expected in past infections. EA may indicate replication or past infection; can't distinguish between them... EA can also be found in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma but this is not diagnostic.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
either reactivation or past infection...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the negative IgM is against recent infection, since this is the first antibody to become positive in recent infection (when all the rest are still negative).
The early antigen Ab becomes positive with active replication of the virus but it may remain positive for life in some individuals so an individual with past infection may have it positive even after complete resolution of the disease.
The nuclear antigen Ab remains positive after infection and stays positive. It develops late (the last one to become positive) so it's an mainly an indicator of past infection.
So in conclusion the combination of negative IgM and positive EBNA indicate past infection. The presence of IgG is expected in past infections. EA may indicate replication or past infection; can't distinguish between them... EA can also be found in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma but this is not diagnostic.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am feeling tired and weaker than normal but I do not have any other typical Mono symptoms. I have been fighting a respiratory infection since November 19th and, whenever I don't rest enough, my cough gets worse. Does this sound like reactivation? I just don't understand why I don't have any other symptoms but still feel so awful. How long will this last?
Brief Answer:
does not sound like reactivation
Detailed Answer:
It doesn't sound like reactivation. This virus is not supposed to cause symptoms like cough. Fatigue, weakness, etc could be attributed to it but not cough. Besides that reactivation is a very rare event... this is nothing that happens all the time!
Perhaps sequential respiratory tract infections are causing your symptoms? Sinusitis? I can't say. Some basic tests would help to exclude conditions like anemia (which may occur during the course of infectious diseases), electrolyte disorders, etc.
Finally, regarding the duration of this situation... I can't say obviously; it depends on the cause. Investigation may provide more clues as to the cause and therefore the expected duration.
Kind Regards!
does not sound like reactivation
Detailed Answer:
It doesn't sound like reactivation. This virus is not supposed to cause symptoms like cough. Fatigue, weakness, etc could be attributed to it but not cough. Besides that reactivation is a very rare event... this is nothing that happens all the time!
Perhaps sequential respiratory tract infections are causing your symptoms? Sinusitis? I can't say. Some basic tests would help to exclude conditions like anemia (which may occur during the course of infectious diseases), electrolyte disorders, etc.
Finally, regarding the duration of this situation... I can't say obviously; it depends on the cause. Investigation may provide more clues as to the cause and therefore the expected duration.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Okay. Thank you. I'm going to go in to see my doctor tomorrow. What questions should I ask?
Brief Answer:
your doctor should tell you a diagnosis or a list of them
Detailed Answer:
Normally your doctor should tell you either a diagnosis based on lab testing, clinical examination and history or a list of diagnoses and propose appropriate investigation strategy to distinguish between them. You are entitled to know what's going on and why.
I haven't seen all the tests you've done so far, so I can't have an opinion about potential diagnoses. I proposed some conditions that may cause your symptoms, so these are also questions to be answered. There are tests to determine the origin of some symptoms. For example inflammatory markers should be high in infectious causes but I don't know if you've done any...
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
your doctor should tell you a diagnosis or a list of them
Detailed Answer:
Normally your doctor should tell you either a diagnosis based on lab testing, clinical examination and history or a list of diagnoses and propose appropriate investigation strategy to distinguish between them. You are entitled to know what's going on and why.
I haven't seen all the tests you've done so far, so I can't have an opinion about potential diagnoses. I proposed some conditions that may cause your symptoms, so these are also questions to be answered. There are tests to determine the origin of some symptoms. For example inflammatory markers should be high in infectious causes but I don't know if you've done any...
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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