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.
Can you get an enlarged spleen from Mono?
One cause of an enlarged spleen: Mononucleosis. The so-called kissing disease, infectious mononucleosis, or mono, can cause an enlarged spleen. Let’s dive into how mono spreads, how to identify it, and how to treat it. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes mono.
Can mono cause long term problems?
Problems with the nervous system (such as encephalitis, loss of function in the nerves that control movement of the muscles in your face, psychosis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome) Mono can lead to long-term complications, and may cause symptoms to worsen.
Why does mono cause splenomegaly?
The symptoms of mononucleosis can be more protracted in older adults. Splenomegaly. Splenomegaly is noted in 50-60% of individuals with infectious mononucleosis. Splenomegaly is caused by the infiltration of the spleen with lymphocytes and atypical lymphoid cells.
Does mono affect your spleen?
Mononucleosis may cause enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen. If such pain occurs, seek medical attention immediately — you may need surgery.
How does mono affect the spleen?
Mononucleosis may cause enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen. If such pain occurs, seek medical attention immediately — you may need surgery.
Why does the spleen enlarged with EBV infection?
As the EBV infection progresses, a proliferation of mononuclear cells results, which collect within the lymphoid tissue. This includes the spleen, and as the spleen enlarges, the splenic capsule thins, which is seen in about 50% of patients [7].
Does the spleen always enlarge with mono?
Enlarged spleen and a swollen liver are less common symptoms. For some people, their liver or spleen or both may remain enlarged even after their fatigue ends. Most people get better in two to four weeks; however, some people may feel fatigued for several more weeks.
How does mono affect the spleen and liver?
Enlarged spleen. Head and body aches. Liver involvement, such as mild liver damage that can cause temporary jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to abnormally high levels of bilirubin (bile pigmentation) in the bloodstream.
How easy is it to rupture your spleen with mono?
However, spontaneous rupture or atraumatic rupture of spleen secondary to infectious mononucleosis is rare with an estimation of 0.06%2 to 0.5%3 and it is the most frequent cause of death in infectious mononucleosis.
What happens if you exercise with mono?
In many mono patients, the spleen—a large blood-filtering gland located in the upper-left part of your abdomen—becomes enlarged. Participating in contact sports or simply moving around too much can put you at risk for a ruptured spleen, a rare but possible complication of mono.
When can I kiss after mono?
As a precaution, you should avoid sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils, food, and kissing until your sore throat and other symptoms have disappeared for several (4-6) weeks. Be sure to cover coughs and sneezes, and wash your hands thoroughly and often. There is no test available for exposure to mono.
What happens if mono goes untreated?
Nervous System Problems These include meningitis, encephalitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell's palsy, and seizures. Certain Cancers These include Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Does mono weaken your immune system forever?
Mono itself doesn't weaken the immune system. In even rarer cases, mono can lead to something called chronic active EBV (CAEBV) disease. This is a serious condition in which mono symptoms last longer than six months. If you experience this or any of the symptoms we've listed below, seek medical attention.
How long does it take for your spleen to shrink after mono?
Peak splenic enlargement was typically seen within 2 weeks but, in some, extended to 3.5 weeks. For the majority, splenomegaly resolved in 4 to 6 weeks.
What are the four stages of mono?
Yes, there are three main stages for mono. The first one is the prodrome stage, followed by the acute stage, and the convalescent or recovery stage is the third and last stage of mono.
What can mono turn into?
Those diseases are: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes.
What is the most common cause of an enlarged spleen?
What are the most common causes of an enlarged spleen? Common causes include: Infections. Viral infections such as mononucleosis and HIV, bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and endocarditis and parasite infections such as malaria and toxoplasmosis stress the immune function of the spleen.
What virus causes spleen enlargement?
Unlike most other organs in your body, your spleen changes in size throughout your life — usually in response to illness or injury. A viral infection, such as mononucleosis, or a bacterial infection, such as syphilis, are among the conditions that can lead to an enlarged spleen.
What happens when your spleen is enlarged?
Symptoms of an Enlarged Spleen People usually find out about it during a physical exam. These are the most common symptoms of an enlarged spleen: Being unable to eat a large meal. Feeling discomfort, fullness, or pain on the upper left side of the abdomen; this pain may spread to your left shoulder.
What causes enlarged spleen and liver?
Enlarged liver and spleen has a variety of causes including infections, blood disorders, liver disease, and cancers.
What causes a spleen to be enlarged?
A number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged. Your spleen is an organ located just below your 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).
What happens if you have an enlarged spleen?
An enlarged spleen can reduce the number of healthy red blood cells, platelets and white cells in your bloodstream, leading to more frequent infections. Anemia and increased bleeding also are possible.
How does an enlarged spleen affect the body?
An enlarged spleen affects each of these vital functions. As your spleen grows larger, it filters normal red blood cells as well as abnormal ones , reducing the number of healthy cells in your bloodstream. It also traps too many platelets. Excess red blood cells and platelets eventually can clog your spleen and affect normal functioning.
What is the spleen?
Your spleen is an organ located just below your 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). An enlarged spleen usually doesn't cause symptoms. It's often discovered during a routine physical exam.
Can anyone develop an enlarged spleen?
Anyone can develop an enlarged spleen at any age, but certain groups are at higher risk, including:
Can you remove an enlarged spleen?
Treatment for an enlarged spleen depends on what's causing it. Surgery to remove an enlarged spleen usually isn't needed, but sometimes it's recommended.
Can a spleen enlarged cause symptoms?
An enlarged spleen typically causes no signs or symptoms, but sometimes it causes:
Does mononucleosis swell up?
It doesn't: Mononucleosis is an infection by the epstein -barr virus. The infection is fought off by the body's immune system, composed of white blood cells and other proteins. The spleen is similar to a giant lymph node and will swell up as it fights the virus, as do the neck lymph nodes. The spleen is mentioned because it's location and thin covering makes it vulnerable to trauma and rupture with hemorrhage.
Does mono affect the lymph nodes?
Affects whole body: Mono, caused by ebv virus, affects the whole body, not just the spleen. The spleen, lymph nodes (glands), and tonsils are all part of the immune system, and all get quite enlarged as they react to the ebv infection. Sometimes the tonsils get so big that a mono patient has trouble swallowing.
What are the clinical features of infectious mononucleosis?
Diagnosing infectious mononucleosis requires an understanding of the clinical features such as fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, and splenomegaly, as well as laboratory findings . The time at which these clinical features and laboratory abnormalities develop is also important to understand. Splenomegaly is common, but splenic rupture is very rare.
Is infectious mononucleosis a common problem in college students?
Infectious mononucleosis and the spleen. Infectious mononucleosis is an extremely common problem in the athletic population. "Mono" occurs in 3% of college students. Diagnosing infectious mononucleosis requires an understanding of the clinical features such as fever, lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, and splenomegaly, as well as laboratory fin ….
Is splenomegaly rare?
Splenomegaly is common, but splenic rupture is very rare. Whether an athlete may return to activity usually relates to the presence of splenomegaly and the duration of the illness. Splenic rupture has not been reported after an individual has been ill for more than 3 weeks.
Why is my spleen enlarged?
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 condi
Why do people remove their spleen?
Spleen are also removed to deal with certain blood abnormalities or malignancies. Since those people have other issues, the infection risk is higher.
How long does mono last?
Mono is self-limiting, though it has a somewhat long-ish duration, which can be over a month. The actual treatment is generally supportive therapy, in other words, treat the symptoms and wait for the disease to go away on its own. Treatments include acetaminophen for pain and fever, and prednisone to reduce throat swelling. Aspirin is not recommended. In some cases, the antiviral valacyclovir (in the US: Valtrex) can be given.
How does a surgeon remove the spleen?
If surgery is needed, a surgeon is likely to remove the spleen using laparoscopy rather than open surgery. This means the surgery is performed through small incisions. A laparoscope allows the surgeon to view and remove the spleen.
Can mononucleosis cause pain in the left side of the abdomen?
Mononucleosis may cause enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen. If such pain occurs, seek medical attention immediately — you may need surgery.
Can a ruptured spleen cause blood loss?
Limit any activities that could rupture your spleen, such as contact sports. A ruptured spleen can cause lots of blood loss and be life threatening. It's important to seek treatment for the cause of your enlarged spleen. Left untreated, an enlarged spleen can lead to serious complications. In most cases, treatment of the underlying cause of the enlarged spleen can prevent removal of the spleen. In some cases, the spleen will need to be removed surgically (splenectomy).
Can you get mononucleosis as an adult?
You're most likely to get mononucleosis with all the signs and symptoms if you're an adolescent or young adult. Young children usually have few symptoms, and the infection often goes unrecognized.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Mono?
Mono has also been associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis. 8
How Quickly Does Mono Progress?
The timeline from the initial onset of mono to a full recovery can differ from person to person. In the first four to six weeks after a person gets mono, they may not even know they have it. This is because mono has a long incubation period.
How Is Mono Treated?
Currently, there is no medication or vaccine that can prevent or cure mono. This illness is fought off by the immune system. To help with recovery:
What is mono in 2021?
Anju Goel, MD, MPH. Published on May 19, 2021. Mononucleosis, or mono for short, is not simply a viral infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It means someone is infected with EBV or another virus and actually has symptoms.
What are the symptoms of stage 2 mono?
Symptoms become more pronounced. They consist of fever, inflammation or swelling in the lymph nodes, and sore throat. 2 Severe fatigue is also present at this phase. Other symptoms that could be present in those with a mono infection include: 4.
How many stages of mono?
Over the course of a mono infection, a person will experience three different stages of the disease. In each stage, the infection will present with different symptoms and health complications. chee gin tan / Getty Images.
Can mono cause liver damage?
With severe cases of mono, individuals may experience liver and spleen damage. Other serious, but rare concerns may include: