Hep. A, a long time ago...

[Marianne01]

Hello everybody,

It's my first time in this forum. I have to say that English is not my mother tongue, so please forgive any mistake I could make.

I recently took a general blood test to check if everything was ok. All the values and results in the different aspects were ok, but, to my surprise, I got "Reactive" in ANTI-HAV/IGG.
I had Hepatitis A due to contaminated food when I was 5 years old and now I'm about to turn 29! Is it normal to get this  possitive result after such a long time?
The doctor said it was, but I wanted a second opinion, so here I am.

I've been always healthy, do a lot of sports and never had any serious illness...

Thank you very much!

Marianne

[Marianne01]

Thank you MichaelT, majneni and GI.PA; your explanations were just perfect!

Regards,

Marianne

[GI.PA]

There are two types of Hepatitis A antibodies.  Hep A IgM antibodies are positve if you HAVE Hep A.  Hep A IgG antibodies are positive if you HAD Hep A in the past.  

As positive Hep A IgG antibody is exactly what one would expect with your history of Hep A five years ago.

GI.PA

[MajNeni]

Think of this as your body's memory.  It keeps "records" of viral  infections you have had such as measles, chicken pox, Hepatitis A, etc.. Your body does this by keeping antibodies against each virus; these antibodies can start the process that keeps you from getting another active infection with that virus.  Special blood tests can reveal what diseases you have had, or had vaccinations against, and are now protected against
(immune to).
Maj Neni

[MichaelT]

Since you had hepA and are now immune from reinfection, the antibodies to hepA are going to be present and detectable.