Splenomegaly. Causes, symptoms, treatment of an enlarged spleen
Splenomegaly - what is it, how is it treated, is it dangerous? These questions are asked by patients to whom doctors have announced such a diagnosis. Splenomegaly is any enlargement of the spleen that can occur as a result of a wide variety of diseases on the part of many organs and tissues. Not so often, this condition is provoked by changes in the organ itself.
Causes of splenomegaly
Why can the spleen be enlarged in an adult? The following conditions and diseases can cause splenomegaly:
- bacterial process. Most often, these are typhus, paratyphoid, septic impression of the body, tuberculosis and syphilis;
- viral impression. Splenomegaly can occur with such diseases as rubella, measles, viral hepatitis, and others;
- protozoan infection – when pathogens of malaria, leishmaniasis and toxoplasmosis invade the body;
- mycosis - impression by pathogenic fungi;
- helminthiasis - the presence of worms in the body;
- various variations of anemia (anemia);
- systemic chronic diseases of hematopoietic organs - primarily leukemias;
- systemic autoimmune pathologies;
- endocrinological disorders - congenital and acquired.
Possible causes of splenomegaly in children and provocateurs of spleen enlargement in adults may differ. Yes, splenomegaly in young patients:
- can be a variant of the norm (with a slight increase);
- occurs due to disturbances during intrauterine development of the organ;
- occurs with an enlarged liver.
Before asking how to treat an enlarged spleen, you should verify the exact causes of splenomegaly - usually, after their elimination, in the absence of complications, the spleen returns to its normal size.
Signs of splenomegaly
To diagnose splenomegaly, the patient's complaints are clarified and an objective examination is carried out (with the help of physical, instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods).
Symptoms of an enlarged spleen in adults depend on what caused the enlarged spleen. In infectious and inflammatory forms of the impression, the following symptoms are mainly manifested:
- pain in the abdomen on the left under the costal arch;
- nausea accompanied by vomiting;
- hyperthermia (increased body temperature).
If the spleen is slightly enlarged, it can be felt only during deep palpation of the abdomen. With large sizes, the spleen can protrude from under the left costal arch and can be seen with the naked eye. On palpation, there is pain in the left subcostal region of varying degrees of expression.
Non-inflammatory lesions are characterized by the same, but less pronounced symptoms. It is generally non-specific (it can manifest itself in other diseases), so additional examination methods are used to clarify the diagnosis.
One of the most informative methods for diagnosing splenomegaly is ultrasound. Signs of splenomegaly on ultrasound:
- increase in the size of the spleen;
- with significant splenomegaly – displacement of neighboring organs;
- with diseases of the spleen itself, which provoke its increase, its heterogeneous structure, changes in blood vessels, etc. are observed.
Also informative are:
- sternal puncture (puncture of the sternum with extraction of a portion of bone marrow and its subsequent analysis under a microscope);
- computed tomography (T);
- multislice computed tomography (MZCT);
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Often, routine X-ray examination and X-ray of the abdominal organs can reveal an enlarged spleen.
The causes of an enlarged spleen in a child up to one year old can be disorders during intrauterine development, so genetic analysis is used here.
Of the laboratory methods, the following are informative:
- general blood test;
- biochemical blood analysis (for differential diagnosis of various diseases that can cause splenomegaly);
- stool analysis to detect helminths;
- various bacteriological cultures followed by the study of colonies and identification of the causative agent;
- blood test for the presence of special markers - biochemical and autoimmune.
How to treat an enlarged spleen
Therapy for an enlarged spleen depends on what disease provoked splenomegaly. Sometimes a consultation of various specialists is necessary - a gastroenterologist, an infectious disease specialist, an immunologist.
What to do with moderate splenomegaly? Do not engage in self-medication and go to a reputable clinic for help from a highly qualified specialist, because even a slight increase in the spleen can signal serious diseases. Mainly for splenomegaly, the following can be used:
- antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal agents (depending on the causative agent);
- hormonal medical preparations;
- vitamin therapy.
If the spleen has grown to gigantic sizes or is affected by a tumor, surgical removal of the organ is resorted to.
If the child is a month old, the spleen is enlarged, but there are no other signs of illness, it is still necessary to consult a doctor immediately. Timely prescribed treatment will save the baby and his parents from many problems.
You can read more about the treatment of an enlarged spleen on the website of our clinic https://dobrobut.com.
Related services:
Family doctor consultation
Ultrasound of abdominal organs
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