10 Facts About Splenomegaly

10. Life Without a Spleen

While the spleen is important, it is not vital. Living without a spleen is possible but does carry a set of risks of which individuals should be aware. Because of the organ's significance to the immune system, people without a spleen are more prone to infections. These people should get vaccines before and after any surgery, and periodic boosters. They are at increased risk of pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections. Additionally, fevers can be more serious and require medical treatment. Finally, travelers with splenomegaly, or those who have had a splenectomy, need to avoid regions where malaria is prevalent because their bodies cannot filter parasite-infected blood properly.