Spleen Problems

The spleen plays a vital role in the immune system of the body. It is located in the left upper abdomen, just underneath the left rib cage. Absence of spleen in the body is not considered fatal but it makes humans more vulnerable to infections. This organ filters the blood, stores the blood cells and destroys old blood cells. The spleen is required to protect the body from infections caused by bacteria that are encapsulated; such as streptococcus pneumonia, hemophilus influenza and meningococcus. A new born baby acquires immunity against bacteria from the mother through the placenta. Till the child develops his own defenses against infection (active immunity), the protection against bacteria depends upon the spleen cells. Immature red blood cells turn into mature blood cells, during their travel through the spleen. Besides this, abnormal blood cells and old blood cells are also removed. There are many factors that result in spleen problems. Some of them have been listed below.

Problems of the Spleen
Enlargement of the spleen is the most common among all spleen problems. In certain diseases such as mononucleosis, liver cirrhosis, lymphoma, leukemia, and polycythemia vera, the spleen gets enlarged. This type of spleen problems raise concerns, as the enlarged organ may cease to function properly, which may increase the risk of injury. A disease known as sickle cell anemia, causes major damage to the spleen due to which the organ shrinks and become non-functional. This happens due to insufficient oxygenated blood reaching the organ.

The reason why spleen enlargement increases the risk of infection, is that the organ tends to trap and store (red and white) blood cells and platelets, in a number larger than what is required. This results in a dearth in the availability of blood cells and platelets in the blood stream to protect the body against an infection. This is known as hypersplenism. This abnormal process creates turmoil in the working of the spleen - more like a cycle. The more the spleen traps the blood cells and platelets, the bigger it grows in size. This in turn, allows the spleen to trap a greater number of cells and the process continues, worsening the condition every time it progresses.

In a much severe case, the spleen can grow to such an extent that it may fall short of its own blood supply. When this occurs, part of the spleen may not get sufficient blood and may get damaged or die (cease to function anymore).

Symptoms and Signs of Spleen Problems
Symptoms of spleen problems mimic those of other medical conditions and so it becomes difficult to diagnose the condition. When the spleen enlarges, it tends to exert some pressure against the stomach. So the affected person may feel full after having even a small snack or even without eating. The person may experience abdominal pain or backaches, in the area of the spleen. As mentioned earlier, when the spleen outgrows its blood supply, some parts of it may start to die. In this case, the pain may also radiate to the left shoulder.

Due to an enlarged spleen, a variety of medical disorders may occur in the body. A big spleen removes too many red and white blood cells causing anemia and leukopenia and due to a low number of platelets, the person develops a tendency to bleed easily.

Treatment of spleen problems is performed by diagnosing the underlying cause of this disease. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy or antibiotics are some of the methods through which spleen problems may be treated. However, if the case becomes complicated and the cause has not been identified, then surgical removal of the spleen (splenectomy) is what doctors opt for. People who undergo splenectomy, become susceptible to infections and so they are recommended by their surgeons to get vaccinated for protection against certain infections and diseases.