Brief Answer: Infection most probable reason. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Ferritin belongs to the proteins which get elevated during inflammation in the body (this group of proteins is called acute-phase proteins). Its task in case of an inflammation is binding iron and inhibiting microbes iron uptake. So in case of any inflammation, this protein will suddenly rise in the blood stream. Stress can also cause inflammation-like reaction and lead to ferritin release to the blood stream. So according to described by you recent cough and stress, this seems to be the most probable reason of such result. Hemoglobin can also get decreased a little during an inflammation. Second reason of elevated ferritin is hemochromatosis indeed. This should be considered if after the and of infection, ferritin still will be elevated. Here is what you should do: - wait a week or so, and recheck ferritin level along with iron level - if it will be elevated, you should consult hepatologist and consider liver biopsy - if the cough will be still present, chest X-ray should be done Please also note that sometimes this protein can be also elevated in case of cancer. You should remember about it and have it checked if all other mentioned reasons will be ruled out. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.

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Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: In my answer I have tried to point out the important facts which you should focus on. I didnt mention protein intake as a reason of elevated ferritin as it has nothing to do with it. Increased protein intake can affect kidneys, but does not cause elevated ferritin level. Elevated ferritin 4 years ago could be due to some infection or stress as well. Explanation that you are from Asian origin what CAN (but does not have to) be the reason of elevated ferritin is not acceptable. Please note that if this would be the reason in your case, ferritin level would be constantly elevated. Your ferritin at level 324 is higher than it should be. This is the fact. Please note that every laboratory can have a different referrential ranges. It depends of the method they use and calibration of the instruments. So as your laboratory says that the level should be below 230, your level is high. I didnt say go and do the liver biopsy. I just mentioned it as a an option in case of ferritin level wont get back to normal. And like I have mentioned biopsy should be considered by a Hepatologist. Please note that many hemochromatosis cases stay undetected for many years. Mostly because of ignoring some symptoms (like constant weakness, stomach issues, gray skin) and lab results. That is why I have asked you to check iron level (yes I have checked your report where iron level is not present). Ferritin can appear suddenly (like I have mentioned before). It means that it can appear in few hours. Ferritin stays in blood stream for about 7 days. That is why I have asked you to redo this test after a week. Stress for immune system can be exactly the same as infection. So ferritin can get increased due to stress in the same way it does when infection appears. Hemoglobin level can get decreased during infection and due to stress as well. You hemoglobin is only slightly decreased which can be an effect of dehydration for example (hematocrit level should be also checked to verify this). I didnt mean to scare you with cancer possibility. But I have tried to give you all important information. You are quite young person so the cancer is hardly possible. But for your safety you should keep that in mind if all other possibilities will be ruled out. Hope this answers all your questions and concerns. If not, please feel free to ask. Regards.

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Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: No, eczema is rather not the reason. Eczema is a kind of autoimmune/allergic inflammation, where bacteria or viruses are not involved. So it does not cause ferritin increase (ferritin is secreted to the blood stream to bind iron, such iron is not accessible for bacteria). If some person (Asian for example) has different protein level because of origin, this means that such person has it elevated all the time. We can compare it to the high. For example if Asian person is shorter than European, this person is high all the time, not from time to time. Same situation is with ferritin level. If you have it higher than other persons because you are Asian (for example), with every lab test, ferritin is higher than referential ranges. Feritin is a protein. Please note that iron which is not connected with protein, is toxic for human body. So to make it non-toxic, it must be connected with ferritin. More iron in the body, more ferritin must be produced. Situation where ferritin is high and iron is normal can appear due to inflammation/ stress, cancer (hardly possible at your age). You do not need any special test for iron level. Every laboratory can do it. CRP is not always elevated due to infection. It also increases slower than ferritin. Moreover we are talking about mild throat/lungs infection, so CRP and ferritin can act like that. Hope this will help. Regards.

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Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: But you do not know how was ferritine acting between 2010 and now. It has never been rechecked. So if the next level will be still high, please have iron level checked. If iron will be elevated as well, consult hepatlogist. If iron will be normal, you should have chest X-ray to see if there is no inflammation there (as you have had some cough). If nothing wrong will be there, we can assume that you have higher ferritin than other persons because of your origin. Hope this will help. Regards.

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