Enlarged Spleen - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment
What is Enlarged Spleen?
The spleen is an important organ in the immune system. The spleen can enlarge by performing its normal functions in response to another medical condition.
Symptoms of Enlarged Spleen
No symptoms, in some cases
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Feeling full without eating
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Easy bleeding
- Weight loss
Causes of Enlarged Spleen
- Bacterial infections
- Abnormal blood flow and congestion
- Blood cancers
- Metabolic disorders
- Parasitic infections
- Pressure on the veins in the spleen
Risk factors of Enlarged Spleen
- Children and young adults with infections such as mononucleosis
- People of African descent and People of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
- Travelers to areas where malaria is endemic
Complications of Enlarged Spleen
- Ruptured spleen
- Infection
Diagnosis of Enlarged Spleen
Diagnosis of enlarged liver involves the following tests:
- Physical examination
- Blood tests
- CT scan
- MRI
Precautions & Prevention of Enlarged Spleen
- Avoid contact sports such as soccer, football, and hockey
- Wear seat belts to avoid injury to spleen
Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Homeopathic Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Psychotherapy Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Surgical Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Other Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
Homeopathic Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
Homeopathic remedies are the true organ remedies for the enlarged spleen. It reduces pain and swelling of the spleen. A homeopathic remedy is very effective when the enlarged spleen is associated with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the homeopathic remedies for enlarged spleen are as follows:
- Natrum Mur
- Capsicum
- Ceano
- China
- Iodium
Acupuncture and Acupressure Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
Acupuncture relieves by improving the physiological function of the organs and organ system. In acupuncture, the therapist will first diagnose the case on the basis of energy system or chi blockage as well as on the basis of the status of five elements. On this basis, certain disease specific acupoints are selected and stimulated.
Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
In the allopathic treatment of enlarged spleen, antibiotics are given to the patient. Along with the antibiotics, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is done. They help in killing the abnormal blood cells that cause the condition. This helps to reduce the size of the spleen and help the spleen to come back into normal shape and size.
Surgical Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
If an enlarged spleen causes serious complications or the underlying problem can’t be identified or treated, surgical removal of your spleen (splenectomy) may be an option. There are two types of splenectomies — the traditional open approach, using a full-size incision, and the laparoscopic approach, which uses several very small incisions.
Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Enlarged Spleen
- Avoid fatty and processed foods.
- Intake of high-fiber fruits such as apples, bananas, and blueberries
- Drink plenty of water
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