Your spleen often is not thought of as one of the more vital organs of the body. However, it still serves various purposes and plays a part in many functions. As a result, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with your spleen that could result in a splenic disease. There are many different types of splenic diseases, but the most common are an enlarged spleen, a splenic rupture, or hypersplenism.
While there are many different splenic diseases, and your exact treatment will vary depending on the condition, they will all require similar treatment plans. This article will explore what those treatment plans are and how to recover from a splenic disease.
The key to successfully treating splenic diseases is to find out what’s causing them. In most cases, spleen problems result from bacterial infections, resulting in an enlarged or overactive spleen. Either way, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat your splenic disease. Antibiotics, such as vancomycin and ceftazidime, can kill the bacteria that are causing your infection and begin the recovery process.
Medications will also play a role in treating splenic diseases. Medications can help cure your condition as well as protect your body while you’re on the mend. The main way that medications help treat splenic diseases is in the case of an enlarged spleen, as medications can return it to a normal, healthy size. Popular medications for treating splenic diseases include cefotaxime and ceftriaxone, but there are many other options.
The potential side effects of medications used to treat splenic diseases are fairly standard for all medications. They could include nausea, vomiting, stomach aches and pains, fatigue, and others. It all depends on which medication you are taking.
One of the duties that your spleen performs is to filter your blood. Unfortunately, if you are struggling with hypersplenism, you have an overactive spleen that’s filtering out too much blood. As a result, you do not have enough red blood cells, and you will need a blood transfusion or donation to replace the missing blood.
Blood transfusions are also helpful for treating anaemia that results from splenic diseases. Your spleen is filtering out too many white blood cells because it’s overactive. Therefore, a blood transfusion is necessary to help the body release trapped sickle cells from within the spleen.
Depending on what type of splenic disease you have, your doctor might also recommend low-dose radiation therapy. Radiation in low doses can help bring an enlarged spleen back to normal size. Radiation therapy can get used as a treatment option for splenic cancer, as well as in the case of an enlarged or overactive spleen that isn’t necessarily cancerous.
If medications, radiation, and other forms of treatment are not enough to cure your splenic disease, your doctor might perform a splenectomy to keep the problem from spreading. A splenectomy is the removal of your spleen, usually through laparoscopic surgery, rather than an open one. A splenectomy is also the preferred treatment for a ruptured spleen that is beyond repair.
While you can go on living without your spleen, there will be unwanted side effects. The most significant is that your spleen plays a role in filtering and eliminating harmful bacteria from the body. Since you will not have your spleen around to perform this function, you will need to be on a steady supply of medications and supplements and get regular vaccinations. Otherwise, you will be at a high risk of contracting illnesses and diseases.
The spleen is a small, seemingly minor organ in the body. However, splenic diseases can lead to a number of complications or even death if you leave them undiagnosed and untreated. Therefore, it is vital to see your doctor if you suspect that you have a ruptured spleen or splenic disease. They can then proceed with the proper treatment to heal you and hopefully save your spleen.