So, the strange designation HBsAg appeared on the medical record. What does this mean? And the fact that the patient was infected with hepatitis B virus (in acute or chronic form). This disease is formed due to the presence of a DNA-containing virus in the body, which is transmitted from one person to another mainly through the blood (during transfusion, drug addiction or sexual contact), but other infection methods are possible. The virus may not manifest itself within a month, or even six months. If the treatment of the disease is very difficult, then there is a chance of developing cirrhosis.
HBsAg - what is it?
So, in general terms, sorted out. More specifically, HBsAg - what is it? This designation is the "Australian" antigen. It is a lipoprotein and is part of the lipoprotein membrane of hepatitis B. It was discovered by B. Blumberg in 1963. So if you have detected HBsAg (what is this, if not an alarm?) - immediately take an examination and in no case delay it. HBsAg determines the ability of the virus to stay in the body for a long time, to thermostability, etc.
Usually, HBsAg is detected in the body with acute hepatitis and in the last two weeks of the incubation period (or in the first month - six months after the onset of the disease). After the detection of HBsAg in most patients during treatment, this antigen decreases within three months, until its complete disappearance. If HBsAg is detected after six months of the course of the disease, then this indicates the transition of hepatitis B to a chronic form.
HBsAg ( blood test) - what is it?
Such an analysis is the main method that is used to detect hepatitis B in the human body. The analysis allows you to find out the amount of antigen in the blood. When the body resists the disease, antibodies are also released - anti-HBs.
The definition of these two components allows you to determine at what stage is the development of the disease.
A blood test to detect the HBsAg antigen can detect hepatitis B in the very early stages of its development. In addition to the very beginning of the development of the disease, in rare cases, HBsAg can settle in the human body for life.
We decipher the result of analyzes
If HBsAg is positive after blood donation, what does it mean? It may then turn out that you, unfortunately, have become ill with an acute or chronic form of hepatitis B. There is another option, but no more rosy - you are a carrier of asymptomatic hepatitis B. However, even with a negative test result, everything can be much more complicated. In one case, you may simply not be infected with hepatitis B. This is a pleasant turn of events. Or you can simply go through a period of recovery (if you previously had an acute form of the disease). In rare cases, there can be a very unpleasant outcome: both hepatitis I and hepatitis D can "settle" in your body at the same time. Therefore, a second test is often prescribed to make sure the diagnosis is correct.
However, if you suspect you have HBsAg, see your doctor right away. Vigilance has not stopped anyone yet.