Spleen is an organ located just below our left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen, also known as splenomegaly (spleh-no-MEG-uh-lee).

How Spleen Work

 Spleen is tucked under rib cage next to stomach on the left side of our abdomen. It is a soft, spongy organ that performs several critical jobs.Spleen helps to

• Filters out and destroys old, damaged blood cells
• Prevents infection by producing white blood cells (lymphocytes) and acting as a first line of defense against disease-causing organisms
• Stores red blood cells and platelets, which help your blood clot

An enlarged spleen affects each of these vital functions. As our spleen grows larger, it filters normal red blood cells as well as abnormal ones, reducing the number of healthy cells in our bloodstream. It also traps too many platelets.

Excess red blood cells and platelets eventually can clog our spleen and affect normal functioning. An enlarged spleen may even outgrow its own blood supply, which can damage or destroy sections of the organ.

SYMPTOMS OF SPLENOMEGALY

An enlarged spleen usually do not cause symptoms. It is often discovered during a routine physical exam when enlarged spleen is feeled instead of normal spleen for which imaging and blood tests is required to help identify the cause.

An enlarged spleen may cause:

• No symptoms in some cases
• Pain or fullness in the left upper abdomen that may spread to the left shoulder
• Feeling full without eating or after eating only a small amount from the enlarged spleen pressing on our stomach
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Frequent infections
• Easy bleeding

CAUSES OF SPLENOMEGALY

A number of infections and diseases may cause an enlarged spleen. The enlargement of the spleen may be temporary, depending on treatment. Contributing factors include:

• Viral infections, such as mononucleosis
• Bacterial infections, such as syphilis or an infection of our heart's inner lining (endocarditis)
• Parasitic infections, such as malaria
• Cirrhosis and other diseases affecting the liver
• Various types of hemolytic anemia — a condition characterized by early destruction of red blood cells
• Blood cancers, such as leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas, such as Hodgkin's disease
• Metabolic disorders, such as Gaucher's disease and Niemann-Pick disease
• Pressure on the veins in the spleen or liver or a blood clot in these veins

COMPLICATION OF SPLENOMEGALY

Potential complications of an enlarged spleen are:

• Infection. An enlarged spleen can reduce the number of healthy red blood cells, platelets and white cells in our bloodstream, leading to more frequent infections. Anemia and increased bleeding also are possible.
• Ruptured spleen. Even healthy spleens are soft and easily damaged, especially in car crashes. The possibility of rupture is much greater when our spleen is enlarged. A ruptured spleen can cause life-threatening bleeding into our abdominal cavity.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR SPLENOMEGALY

Treatment for an enlarged spleen focuses on the underlying condition which causes it. Surgically removing an enlarged spleen is not usually the first treatment, but is sometimes recommended.

ARANEA DIAD - Usefull for enlargement of spleen due to fevers, specially malaria. Patient feels cold with pain in  the long bones.Usefull for Coldness which is not relieved by anything

CALCAREA CARB - Useful for enlarged spleen in infants

FRAGARIA VESCA - Useful For expulsion of stone from the spleen. It also prevents formation of calculi

TARAXACUM -There is pain  and soreness in the splenic and hepatic regions.There is Sensation of bubbles bursting in bowels.