What is hepatosplenomegaly?
Hepatosplenomegaly is a health condition in which both the liver and the spleen are enlarged. A medical expert may diagnose hepatosplenomegaly during clinical examination. Common causes include the presence of some other health problems such as mononucleosis, hepatitis and some types of genetic disorders. The prescribed treatment depends on a specific diagnosis.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of hepatosplenomegaly is pain in the upper right abdomen. There may also be a swelling, especially on the right side of the abdomen, as well as tremor and fever. Many people with this condition have gastrointestinal problems such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and color changes. As the condition progresses, they can also develop jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and eyes. In addition to these symptoms, people with this condition usually have symptoms related to the underlying disease or disorder that 'swelling.
Causes
common causes of hepatosplenomegalia are mo moNonucleosis, hepatitis and lysosomal storage disorders (LSD). Mononucleosis is spreading with saliva and mucus and can cause high fever, enlarged lymph nodes and severe sore throat. Patients with mononucleosis are most commonly aged 15 to 17 and most of them are fully mined after the virus has performed their course. Antibiotics generally do not work in the treatment of this kind of virus, although some health care specialists can prescribe corticosteroid drugs to help alleviate swelling in the throat.
Another common cause of this condition is acute viral hepatitis. In addition to enlarged liver and spleen, patients with acute viral hepatitis may also experience poor appetite, fever and jaundice of the skin or white eyes. Recovery can take up to eight weeks and normally treats several courses of antivirus drugs.
LSD, a group of about 50 rare genetic states, can also cause swelling of the liver and spareny. The most common LSDs are Gauchar's, Niemann-Pick and Tay-Sachs. Each of them is usually diagnosed in early childhood and shortly afterwards can cause death. There is no medicine for LSD, but treatment of bone marrow transplants and substitution therapy can alleviate certain symptoms.
Other causes of hepatosplenomegalia may include tuberculosis, malaria and some forms of cancer. Some autoimmune disorders may also lead to this condition, including systemic erythematosis (SLE) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Parasitic infections, chronic alcoholism and fever scratches of cats are also associated with swelling of the liver and spleen.
diagnosis
hepatosplenomegaly is usually diagnosed with ultrasound or computer tomography (CT) abdominal scan. If the healthcare provider suspects that person has a disease that affects the liver and spleen, he usually orders tests for this condition. For example, if a person comes with jaundice and complains about abdominal pain, a health care provider would try it on hepatitis and also scan the abdomen.
Treatment
Treatment of hepatosplenomegaly depends largely on the basic cause. Most of the time, when treating it, swelling decreases naturally. In persons with conditions that cannot be cured, treatment focuses on mastering symptoms and improving the function of the liver and sleen. This includes things such as enzyme substitution therapy that can help keep the size of the liver and spleen down and avoid things that stress the liver, such as drinking alcohol or using non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Complications
This condition is associated with many complications, including liver failure. If this happens, the person may be confused, go to a coma or die. Hepatosplenomegaly can also lead to a cracked spleen that can cause serious internal bleeding and death.