You might not think of your spleen that much, but it’s been looking out for you.
If you don’t have one, there are some things to know to keep yourself safe from infections.
What Does Your Spleen Do?
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This last bit helps keep our bodies free from pathogens.
How could you lose your spleen, though?
This is usually due to car and motorcycle accidents as well as falls, fights, and sports injuries.
In car accidents, such injuries can also be associated with the incorrect placement and use of a seatbelt.
There can also be cases of stabbings and gunshots that can injure the spleen but this less common.
The spleen is the most commonly injured organ in blunt abdominal trauma.
Not all damage to the spleen requires surgery.
In the United States, approximately 100,000 people have sickle cell.Around the world, over a million do.
There are different types of sickle cell disease.
The differences in these types depend on which genetic mutations are present.
The loss of the spleen occurs most commonly in the most common pop in of sickle cellhemoglobin SS disease.
Hemoglobin SS disease results from having two copies of the same hemoglobin S gene mutation.
In this key in, people usually lose their spleen by a process called “autosplenectomy.”
There have been rare cases of other diseases causing the same process.
Splenectomy is used to treat one rare disease in particularimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
In ITP, the immune system, unfortunately, attacks platelets.
This means our bodies don’t have one of the tools they need for clotting to stop bleeding.
Those affected by the immune system going awry like this may have bruises and bleed easily.
They may also have pinpoint red spots on their legs.
This disease can go away on its own, but some need medications.
Although less common, some have had splenectomies to treatthalassemiaas well as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
Sometimes splenectomies were done because a spleen had become too large from another disease.
You should be vaccinated before you have surgery if it is planned surgery.
Many splenectomies are performed as emergencies after trauma and so advanced planning is not always possible.
The vaccines should be given two weeks or more after surgery, but don’t wait too long.
Meningococcal Vaccine
Neisseria meningitidis(N. meningitidis)is the bacteria that can cause meningitis and/or sepsis.
The main vaccine is quadrivalent.
It protects against four strains ofN.
meningitidis(serogroups A, C, W, and Y).
It leaves B uncovered if not specifically vaccinated for.
Serogroup X is less common and does not yet have a vaccine available.
It also causes pneumonia and throat swelling and infections that can be serious.
It’s largely an infection in children, but anyone without a spleen should be vaccinated.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
There are many types ofStreptococcus pneumoniae(also called pneumococcus or strep pneumo).
Which serotypes youre protected against depends on which vaccine you receive.
pneumoniae.The polysaccharide vaccine Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) protects against 23 serotypes.
Influenza Vaccine
You’ll need toget the influenza vaccine every year.
The pros and cons of this should be discussed with your healthcare provider or other health professional.
Taking antibiotics regularly can have unintended consequences.
Others carry antibiotics with them which they take immediately if they develop a fever or become sick.
They then seek medical care immediately.
Immediate treatment can help prevent an infection from becoming a deadly case of sepsis.
It is usually due to a dog bite, though occasionally cat bites as well.
Preventing Travel Risks
If you’re traveling you may encounter germs you wouldn’t otherwise.
You may also live somewhere that has different infectious agents than other places do.
There are particular infections that you may be at more risk for following loss of your spleen.
(Vaccine protection doesn’t always last as long as we’d like.)
There are also rare (and serious) cases from Europe.Babesiacan also be transmitted by a blood transfusion.
Enlarged Spleen
Having a big spleen is called splenomegaly.
It’s something a healthcare provider should check out.
There are many reasons why a spleen might become enlarged.
One of the most common ismononucleosis (mono)resulting from theEpstein Barr virus (EBV).
Others develop it from having liver disease (likeportal hypertension).
Having More Than One Spleen
Some people have more than one spleen.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Overview of the spleen.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Overview of abdominal trauma.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Data and statistics on sickle cell disease.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Immune thrombocytopenia.
2014;99(2):392-398. doi:10.3324/haematol.2013.092460
Immunize.org.Vaccinations for Adults without a Spleen.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adult Immunization Schedule by Age (Addendum updated June 27, 2024).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal vaccination.
Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital.Splenectomy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Risk ofCapnocytophagainfection.
2019;68(1):51-60. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy403
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Babesiosis.
Kimmig LM, Palevsky HI.Review of the association between splenectomy and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.Ann Am Thorac Soc.
