What does "small three positives" of hepatitis B mean?

Sep 03, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, "small three positives" of hepatitis B refers to a condition where, during the five-item hepatitis B test, the hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody all show positive results simultaneously. It is recommended to have regular follow-up examinations at正规 medical institutions to monitor disease progression; maintain a regular作息 pattern and avoid excessive fatigue and staying up late; and maintain a balanced diet, reducing the intake of greasy and spicy, irritating foods. (Note: In the translation above, "正规医疗机构" is translated as "regular medical institutions," which might be better phrased as "qualified" or "accredited medical institutions" depending on context. Similarly, "作息" is translated as "作息 pattern," which could be more naturally rendered as "sleep schedule" or "rest routine." Please let me know if you'd like a refined version.) Refined Translation: Under normal circumstances, "small three positives" of hepatitis B refers to a condition where, during the five-item hepatitis B test, the hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody all show positive results simultaneously. Patients should regularly visit qualified medical institutions for follow-up examinations to monitor disease progression; maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid excessive fatigue and staying up late; and maintain a balanced diet while reducing the intake of greasy and spicy, irritating foods.

Generally, "small three positives" of hepatitis B refers to a condition where, during the five-item hepatitis B test, the hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody all show positive results simultaneously. Detailed analysis is as follows:

"Small three positives" of hepatitis B indicates that after a person is infected with the hepatitis B virus, serum tests show positive results for the hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody. This result suggests the presence of the hepatitis B virus in the body, but viral replication is usually relatively low, and its infectivity is lower compared to "large three positives" of hepatitis B. However, this result alone cannot determine the severity of the condition. Further evaluation of liver damage and viral replication levels should be conducted in combination with liver function tests and quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus DNA.

Routine management includes regular follow-up visits at formal medical institutions to monitor disease progression; maintaining a regular作息 (sleep-wake cycle) and avoiding excessive fatigue and staying up late; eating a balanced diet and reducing intake of greasy and spicy foods; strictly avoiding alcohol consumption to prevent additional liver damage; maintaining a positive mindset and avoiding anxiety; and refraining from taking any medications or health products that may harm the liver without medical advice. If discomfort occurs, timely medical attention should be sought, and professional doctors' instructions should be followed for appropriate management.