my son had diaherra for two weeks and after a blood test he was diagnosed with a higher that average, but still low Antineuclear Antibodies in his blood. He is still having some issues with diaherrea and lately his knees have been bothering him (they are inflamed) - should I be concerned?
2007-06-11 18:32:45 · 2 answers · asked by gina h 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
HAVE AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST AND SEE IF THERE IS A METABOLIC PROBLEM.
2007-06-11 18:51:50 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ugh...The anti-nuclear antibody (ANA)- a garbage basket test when you are groping for something autoimmune.
Don't get me wrong- if the doc had some specific diagnosis in mind when they ordered the test, it could be a big help in saying- yes, that disease is a possibility or no, the patient doesn't have that disease- go fish. It all depends on whether the doc was on a "fishing expidition" or whether they had something in mind before they ordered the test.
Unfortunately therefore, a positive ANA- and by that I mean a 1:320 titer (only 3% of the normal population will have this titer) or more can mean a variety of things, which the ordering physican can explain to you. As your titer goes down- ie 1:160 or less, the greater the odds that the ANA test is actually "normal" and is not significant.
Diarrhea as well is a non specific symptom, that is- it too can mean a lot of things, if anything at all...So in short, I wouldn't worry about the tests, until the pediatrician or family practitioner say "worry".
2007-06-11 19:37:03 · answer #2 · answered by codessuck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋