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. Rupture can happen straight away or it may happen weeks after the injury. Signs of a ruptured spleen are: pain behind your left ribs and tenderness when you touch this area dizziness and a rapid heart rate a sign of low blood pressure caused by blood loss Sometimes if you lie down and raise your legs, you can feel the pain at the tip of your left shoulder.
A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency, as it can cause life-threatening bleeding. An enlarged spleen The spleen can become swollen after an infection or injury. An enlarged spleen does not always cause symptoms. Otherwise, look out for: feeling full very quickly after eating an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach feeling discomfort or pain behind your left ribs anaemia and fatigue frequent infections easy bleeding Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen.
Surgery to remove the spleen You may need an operation to remove your spleen, known as a splenectomy, if it's not working properly or it's damaged, diseased or enlarged. Sometimes just part of your spleen can be removed, which is called a partial splenectomy. Laparoscopy Most operations to remove spleens are carried out using keyhole surgery laparoscopy. You may be able to go home the same day, or may need to stay in hospital overnight.
If you go home the same day, someone will need to stay with you for the first 24 hours. Open surgery, where one large incision is made, may be needed if the spleen is too large or too damaged to be removed via keyhole surgery. Often, in emergencies, this will be the preferred method to rapidly control bleeding. It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief medication. Like any operation, a splenectomy carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection.
You should be given breathing and leg movement exercises to do at home, to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection. Another risk is the surgical wound becoming infected.
If you spot any signs of infection, contact your GP or hospital immediately, as you may need antibiotics. 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 will still be able to cope with most infections. However, there is a small risk that a serious infection may develop quickly.
This risk will be present for the rest of your life. Young children have a higher risk of serious infection than adults, but the risk is still small. The risk is also increased if you have a medical condition such as sickle cell anaemia , coeliac disease or a condition that affects your immune system, such as HIV.
Make sure you have had all your routine childhood vaccinations. You should also be vaccinated against:. It's recommended that you take low-dose antibiotics for the rest of your life to prevent bacterial infections. Antibiotics are particularly important:.
Your GP can prescribe a course of antibiotics for you to use if you get an infection. You should start taking them at the first sign of an infection, so see your GP as soon as possible. Bites from animals and ticks small blood-sucking parasites can cause infections. If you get bitten by an animal, particularly a dog, start your course of antibiotics and seek medical advice urgently. If you go trekking or camping regularly, you may be at risk of babesiosis, which is a rare disease transmitted by ticks.
We look at these and give our recommendations for your overall gut health questions. Cholangitis is inflammation swelling in the bile duct. Treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have chronic or acute cholangitis. Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach empties into your small intestine too slowly. Learn about the best diet for gastroparesis and what…. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and causes abdominal tenderness and pain.
Learn more. What does a gastroenterologist do, and when should you see one? Here's what you should know before making an appointment. Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children.
It can also affect adults. Learn about this condition, symptoms, and…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Symptoms Causes When to seek help Treatment Outlook Overview Splenomegaly is a condition that occurs when your spleen becomes enlarged.
This organ is found on the left side of your body, below your rib cage. The spleen is usually about the size of your fist, but when enlarged, it can become much bigger. What should I look out for? 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. See your doctor promptly if you have pain in your left upper belly, especially if it's severe or the pain gets worse when you take a deep breath.
A number of infections and diseases can cause an enlarged spleen. The enlargement might be temporary, depending on treatment. Contributing factors include:. Your spleen is tucked below your rib cage next to your stomach on the left side of your belly.
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