The spleen is a small organ usually about the size of your fist. But a number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged. Your spleen is an organ that sits just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen. An enlarged spleen is also known as splenomegaly spleh-no-MEG-uh-lee.
An enlarged spleen usually doesn't cause symptoms. It's often discovered during a routine physical exam. A doctor usually can't feel the spleen in an adult unless it's enlarged. Imaging and blood tests can help identify the cause of an enlarged spleen. Treatment for an enlarged spleen depends on what's causing it.
Surgery to remove an enlarged spleen usually isn't needed, but sometimes it's recommended. Liver disease, such as cirrhosis caused by chronic alcoholism, can affect the spleen. Some forms of heart disease, which can be affected by diet and exercise, can also disrupt the blood supply to your spleen. Blood disorders are a significant source of splenic problems.
Since your spleen spends its day filtering and cleaning your blood supply, things that go wrong with your blood, particularly when they affect your red blood cells, can be a challenge for your spleen.
Several of the blood disorders that are common causes of splenomegaly involve the spleen working too hard to remove damaged blood cells. These conditions include hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and spherocytosis.
The blood disorders mentioned above are not the only reason your spleen may be working overtime trying to target and filter damaged cells from your blood. It is also possible that other types of cancer can metastasize into splenic tissue. There are a number of metabolic and genetic disorders that can affect the spleen. These conditions are less focused on damage to the blood itself, but the damage to other tissues in the body can still cause there to be extra work for the spleen to do.
The more common causes of this type of damage to the spleen include the following:. Infections of various types are also possible causes of splenomegaly. This can include viral, bacterial, and even parasitic infections. Other, lesser-known infections such as anaplasmosis and cytomegalovirus, can also cause damage to the immune system, including the spleen. Most organs in the body have their way of telling you something is wrong.
Chronic coughing and nasal drainage can indicate something has gone wrong in your respiratory system. Blood in your stool is a clear sign you should go talk to your doctor, as something might be very wrong in your digestive tract. Problems with your spleen, on the other hand, have few such telltale signs. If you find yourself pushing back from the table feeling full before you have eaten a full meal, a problem with your spleen is probably not the first thing that will come to mind. In fact, an unexplained sensation of fullness is sometimes an indication that your spleen has become enlarged and is pressing against your stomach.
If the infection that causes your enlarged spleen is caused by bacteria, antibiotics may help. If a virus caused your infection, as is the case with mononucleosis, antibiotics would be of no help. In serious cases, your doctor might suggest that you have your spleen removed, which is called a splenectomy. Your risk of developing infections throughout your life may increase. But you can reduce your risk of getting infections by getting the appropriate vaccinations.
If you have splenomegaly, finding ways to prevent damage to your enlarged spleen is important. When your spleen is enlarged, it has a greater risk of rupture. A ruptured spleen can lead to heavy internal bleeding that can be life-threatening. If you get into an accident, your seatbelt will help protect your organs, including your spleen, and will reduce the chance of trauma to your organs. With treatment of the underlying cause of your enlarged spleen, you can go on to live a normal, healthy life.
Learn about the spleen, its functions in the body, and potential problems it can have. Your spleen is a small organ located on the left side of your abdomen under your rib cage. This organ is part of your immune system. What does the size of your spleen say about your health, and when should you visit your doctor? Here we give you an overview of what functions the…. The jejunum is one of three sections that make up the small intestine.
Learn about its function and anatomy, as well as the conditions that can affect…. At-home microbiome testing kits can be a first step. Recovery usually takes a few weeks. Your doctor or nurse will advise when you can go back to your usual activities, such as driving.
If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs, such as the liver, can take over many of the spleen's functions. This means you'll still be able to cope with most infections. But there's a small risk that a serious infection may develop quickly. This risk will be present for the rest of your life. The risk is also increased if you have a health condition like sickle cell anaemia or coeliac disease , or a health condition that affects your immune system, like HIV.
It's recommended that you take low-dose antibiotics for the rest of your life to prevent bacterial infections. Bites from animals and small blood-sucking parasites called ticks can cause infections. If you get bitten by an animal, particularly a dog, start your course of antibiotics if you have them with you, and seek medical advice urgently. If you go trekking or camping regularly, you may be at risk of Lyme disease , a disease transmitted by ticks. Healthcare professionals will mark your health records to show that you do not have a working spleen.
If possible, avoid countries where malaria is present. If you cannot avoid them, speak to a GP or local pharmacist about antimalarial medicine before you travel. Page last reviewed: 03 May Next review due: 03 May Spleen problems and spleen removal. What does the spleen do? The spleen has some important functions: it fights invading germs in the blood the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells it controls the level of blood cells white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets it filters the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells Spleen problems The spleen is not working properly If the spleen does not work properly, it may start to remove healthy blood cells.
This can lead to: anaemia , from a reduced number of red blood cells an increased risk of infection, from a reduced number of white blood cells bleeding or bruising, caused by a reduced number of platelets A painful spleen Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen.
A damaged or ruptured spleen The spleen can become damaged or may burst rupture after an injury, such as a blow to the abdomen, a car accident, a sporting accident or broken ribs.
0コメント