Reducing the danger of infection for children with spleen problems

The spleen is an organ in the abdomen that helps fight off certain severe infections. If your child has had their spleen removed, was born without a spleen or has a spleen that does not work well, they might have trouble fighting such infections.

Certain vaccines and antibiotics help protect against some, but not all infections in children with spleen problems.

Your doctor will advise you as to whether your child should take antibiotics to prevent infection and for how long. Many children with spleen problems are on penicillin twice per day for years. This is generally safe and can reduce the risk of serious infections.

What should you watch for?

Call your child’s doctor right away if you notice any signs of an infection such as:

• fever,
• aches,
• chills,
• sore throat,
• vomiting, or
• headache.

Even a low fever (less than 38.5°C) should be discussed with your doctor. Serious infections can be hard to diagnose at first because it can come on slowly, but still be very dangerous to a child with spleen problems.

What else can you do?

• If your child has had their spleen removed (splenectomy) or has a spleen that doesn’t work properly, they should always wear a MedicAlert bracelet. The bracelet should include information about your child’s condition and any special treatment instructions.
• You should develop a medical emergency plan with your child’s doctor. If you will not be able to get medical help right away (such as when you are travelling), your doctor should give you antibiotics to start if your child gets a fever. However, you still need to get medical attention as soon as possible.
• In addition to all routine childhood immunizations, your child should get the flu vaccine every year.
• Your child may need some vaccines earlier than other children, such as the meningococcal vaccine ACWY, or vaccines that aren’t regularly given to other children, such as meningococcal B vaccine. These vaccines are given to children at higher risk of getting meningococcal infections. Speak to your doctor for more information.
• If your child gets a dog or cat bite, they should be started on antibiotics even if the bite is not infected.
• Talk to your doctor if your child will be travelling to an area where there is malaria.