Swelling of the Spleen Can Be a Sign of This Serious Disease

Spleen swelling is a condition in which the spleen organ enlarges. This condition can be a symptom or sign of a serious illness in your body. Come on, consider the following review! Spleen or splenomegaly does not always cause symptoms. Often, swelling of the spleen is detected when the doctor performs a health check. Symptoms that can arise from swelling of the spleen include frequent fatigue, easy bleeding, and pain or discomfort in the upper left abdomen, where the spleen is located. Pain that occurs can even spread to the back and shoulder blades or shoulder blades. Patients with swollen spleen will usually feel easier to fill, even if eating in small portions. This happens because the swollen and enlarged spleen begins to press the stomach. Swelling of the spleen that suppresses other body organs can affect blood flow to the spleen and cause the spleen to not filter blood properly. The larger the spleen, the more red blood cells are destroyed, so that it can cause anemia. Swelling of the spleen can also cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells, which leaves the body vulnerable to infection.

Spleen Swelling Signs the Following Serious Disease

The normal size of the spleen is as big as a fist. However, certain diseases can make it swell and enlarge many times its normal size. Because the spleen is an organ involved in many functions, there are also many conditions that can affect it. Swelling of the spleen can be caused by several conditions such as:

• Infection. Diseases caused by viral infections such as mononucleosis, parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis and malaria, and bacterial infections such as abscesses, syphilis, and endocarditis can cause spleen swelling.
• Cancer. Swelling of the spleen can be a sign of leukemia (blood cancer) or lymphoma (lymph cancer). Swelling of the spleen can also be a sign of cancer that has spread or metastasis.
• Liver disease. Like cirrhosis.
• Inflammation. Diseases caused by inflammation such as sarcoidosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Trauma or injury. Swelling of the spleen can also be caused by blunt injury to the abdomen, for example collision in an accident or while exercising.
• Other diseases. Such as hemolytic anemia, cysts, heart failure, Gaucher's disease, amyloidosis, or glycogen storage disease.

Effective Management of Spleen Swelling

An effective way to treat spleen swelling is to treat the underlying disease. If the swelling of the spleen is due to a bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend a splenectomy or surgical removal of the spleen. But the risk is that you will be more vulnerable to infections for life. Nevertheless, these risks can be anticipated by routine vaccinations. To reduce the risk of rupture (rupture) of the enlarged spleen, patients are advised to avoid physical activity or sports that are vulnerable to injury, such as soccer and hockey. When driving a car, make sure to wear a seat belt. If there are symptoms of swelling of the spleen, immediately see a doctor to get treatment. The sooner this condition gets treated the better, because it will reduce the risk of splenic rupture which can cause severe bleeding in the abdominal cavity as well as life threatening.