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What Causes High ESR Levels?

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Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2015
Question: Hi Doctor - My ESR shows very high(141) I am struggling with stomach ache from 2 weeks.Each time I eat I get stools and get some pain in the abdomen(now it is settled i have no prob .I have given a blood test it is normal .ECG is normal ,Ultra sound gave a Normal reading except for G1 fatty liver.Before this i had sinus infection which is now not bothering me .What are the possible causes of my infection ...i am really worried and scared of HIV ....also attaching all the reprots please suggest .Earlier i had sympots like fever , synus , tonsilts but no diaheria...

Please help me why my ESR is very high

doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
high ESR is suggestive of inflammation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through all the reports you have attached here, your WBC is slightly high with very high ESR and peripheral smear and ultrasound abdomen are normal. Grade I fatty liver is not a abnormal condition. It is just extra fatty tissue deposition over hepatocytes.
ESR is a non specific marker of inflammation but your slight high WBC might suggests of acute bacterial infection.
As you said you had stomach pain but relieved from it now with frequent stools,fever,sinusitis or tonsillitis earlier.
Can you tell me more symptoms which can help me to make my view clear for diagnosis?
With normal ultrasound abdomen, it could be acute gastritis due to h.pylori or inflammatory bowel disease like crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome as you had a frequent stools.
The important thing is detailed and chronological history and clinical examination of abdomen and not just a blood parameters upon which we should rely.
You would require upper GI scopy and colonoscopy with gut biopsy to make a clear diagnosis.
You better consult gastroenterologist for thoroughly check up and all necessary investigations.
Thanks and regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (1 hour later)
Hello Doctor - I retook ESR it is 13 ...as now I have now sysptoms ...earlier I had ....tonstills ,sinus and headache and some numbness ...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
If it has come down to normal then no need to worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your follow-up question.
ESR is a very sensitive and non-specific marker of acute inflammation,means it gets raised even by mild fever.
You could have this acute high because of sinusitis,tonsillitis or gut infection earlier.
I mentioned the above possible differential diagnosis because you had a stomach pain for couple of weeks with normal ultrasound of abdomen and other blood tests except ESR as stated by you.

You should not worry about HIV infection provided that there is no history of exposure and IV drug abuse.

Thanks and Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (16 minutes later)
Hi Dr- There was once a exposure .for less than 5 minutes due to accidental rupture of the protection.But I am not sure the female had any HIV..
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
See this explanation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There is very less chances of HIV which can spread from infected female partner to a male partner and contrary to this, there is very high chances of transmission of this virus from infected male to female.
If female is infected from HIV then this HIV virus get secreted in her body fluids like blood, vaginal juices etc.
To transmit this virus into male requires blood to blood or body fluids to blood contact.
It means from female to male transmission, there should be a tearing of genital mucosa of both the partners and their blood get mixed or exchanged at micro level.
If above phenomena had not occurred to you then there is no need to worry whether that female was infected or not.

I have tried to explain you in as much as simple words.
Hope you will understand now.
Thanks.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sandip Kabra

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 3078 Questions

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What Causes High ESR Levels?

Brief Answer: high ESR is suggestive of inflammation. Detailed Answer: Hi, I have gone through all the reports you have attached here, your WBC is slightly high with very high ESR and peripheral smear and ultrasound abdomen are normal. Grade I fatty liver is not a abnormal condition. It is just extra fatty tissue deposition over hepatocytes. ESR is a non specific marker of inflammation but your slight high WBC might suggests of acute bacterial infection. As you said you had stomach pain but relieved from it now with frequent stools,fever,sinusitis or tonsillitis earlier. Can you tell me more symptoms which can help me to make my view clear for diagnosis? With normal ultrasound abdomen, it could be acute gastritis due to h.pylori or inflammatory bowel disease like crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis or irritable bowel syndrome as you had a frequent stools. The important thing is detailed and chronological history and clinical examination of abdomen and not just a blood parameters upon which we should rely. You would require upper GI scopy and colonoscopy with gut biopsy to make a clear diagnosis. You better consult gastroenterologist for thoroughly check up and all necessary investigations. Thanks and regards,