Splenomegaly

SPLENOMEGALY 

Splenomegaly is defined as enlargement of the spleen, measured by size or weight.

The spleen is a functionally diverse organ with active roles in immunosurveillance and hematopoiesis. It lies within the left upper quadrant of the peritoneal cavity and abuts ribs 9-12, the stomach, the left kidney, the splenic flexure of the colon, and the tail of the pancreas. A normal spleen weighs 150 g and is approximately 11 cm in craniocaudal length.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS 

An enlarged spleen typically causes no signs or symptoms, Signs and symptoms may include:

•Pain or fullness in the left upper belly that can spread to the left shoulder

•Palpable spleen

•A feeling of fullness without eating or after eating 

•Weakness and fatigue,Low red blood cells (anemia)

•Frequent infections

•Easy bleeding and bruising

CAUSES

Causes of an Enlarged Spleen

An enlarged spleen can be caused by infections, cirrhosis and other liver diseases, blood diseases characterized by abnormal blood cells, problems with the lymph system, or other conditions.

Here are some common causes of an enlarged spleen:

•Infections

Viral infections, such as mononucleosis

Parasitic infections, such as toxoplasmosis

Bacterial infections, such as endocarditis (an infection of your heart's valves)

•Cancer

Leukemia, a cancer in which white blood cells displace normal blood cells

Lymphoma, a cancer of lymph tissue, such as Hodgkin's disease

Other causes of an enlarged spleen include:

•Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or sarcoidosis

•Trauma, such as an injury during contact sports

•Cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the spleen

•Blood cancers, such as leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas, such as Hodgkin's disease

•A cyst, a noncancerous fluid-filled sac

•A large abscess, a pus-filled cavity usually caused by a bacterial infection

•Infiltrative diseases such as Gaucher disease, amyloidosis, or glycogen storage diseases

•Cirrhosis and other diseases affecting the liver

•Various types of hemolytic anemia — a condition characterized by early destruction of red blood cells

•Metabolic disorders, such as Gaucher disease and Niemann-Pick disease

•Pressure on the veins in the spleen or liver or a blood clot in these veins

HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT 

Agar., Agn., Aran., Ars., Ars. iod., Aur. mur., Bellis, Calc. ars., Caps., Card. m., Ceanoth., Ced., Chionanth., Chin. s., Cinch., Ferr. ac., Ferr. ars., Ferr. iod., Grind., Helianth., Iod., Mag. m., Malar., Merc. i. r., Nat. m., Persicaria, Phos. ac., Phos., Polym. Querc., Succin., Sul. ac., Urt.