Q. My hepatitis A total antibody is positive. What does it mean?

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You need not worry, hepatitis A antibody is reactive and your liver functions are not affected. Your liver enzymes are normal.

A total antibody test detects both IgM and IgG antibodies present. If the total antibody test or hepatitis A is positive and someone has never been vaccinated against HAV, then the person has had past exposure to the virus. They protect you against hepatitis A. The average time to get symptoms after you are infected is 30 days.

Hepatitis A infection usually clears up on its own within a few months. Once you have had HAV, you will probably never have it again. This is immunity to the infection. Hepatitis A virus is most likely to spread the disease during the two weeks before symptoms begin. Most people stop being contagious one week after their symptoms start. Only children can be spreading the virus in their stool for up to three months after infection.

Mild cases of hepatitis A do not require treatment. Most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage. Your partner and close family members can take vaccination. It prevents about 95% effective in healthy adults and can work for more than 20 years. In children, it is about 85% effective and can last for 15 to 20 years. There are no medications for virus. It will go by itself.

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Total hepatitis A antibody indicates prior or acute infection with or immunization to Hepatitis A virus. That means you have done test now may be acute infection present or may be vaccinated. If this is an acute infection, symptoms may appear after weeks or months. Still no need to worry about it. Most people get better within two months. There are usually no long-term effects. After you recover, you will be immune for the rest of your life. You can repeat the liver function test after one month to see the enzyme state.