Symptoms
In the case of splenic pain, the pain usually occurs in the left upper abdomen. This is where the spleen lies, which is covered by the ribs. However, the symptoms can also radiate and extend into the left lower abdomen or up to the left shoulder. Depending on the cause of the pain, it can manifest itself in different ways. In the case of a splenic infarction or rupture of the spleen, the pain occurs suddenly and is usually sharp.In infectious diseases in which the spleen is also affected, the pain can develop over a longer period of time and manifest itself as a feeling of pressure due to an enlargement of the spleen, or it can be strong and stabbing.
Other symptoms
- Fever
- Fatigue, tiredness, weakness
- Pallor
- Milk swelling
- Curvature of the body due to pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Tachycardia
- Nosebleeds
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the disease in splenic pain begins with a physical examination. The doctor palpates under the left costal arch and at the same time the patient is asked to breathe in. Before this, the doctor palpates the abdominal region from bottom to top. An enlargement is present if the spleen is clearly palpable at least when the patient breathes in. This is usually followed by an ultrasound examination, a blood count and, if there is a suspicion of a rupture of the spleen, a computer tomography.
Other influences
Splenic pain may be more frequent in certain situations. These can then be explained by other/external influences. If, in connection with coughing, left-sided pain occurs that is localized in the region of the costal arch, the spleen may be responsible.
In addition, however, one should also think of a disease of the lungs, such as pneumonia or inflammation of the pleura. These can also cause pain on the left side and are much more common than causes. If the spleen is the trigger for the pain, this is usually accompanied by an enlargement of the organ.
There are several possible causes for spleen enlargement and cough-related pain. These primarily include infections such as mononucleosis or tuberculosis. Infections are usually accompanied by symptoms that are indicative of the underlying disease.
But anemia can also result in an enlarged spleen, which presses on the surrounding organs when coughing and causes pain. A splenic infarction, i.e. the occlusion of a blood vessel that supplies the spleen, can lead to very severe pain when coughing. This interrupts the supply of nutrients to the spleen and after a while the organ begins to die.
A rupture of the spleen, a rupture of the spleen, also causes severe acute pain. This is usually caused by accidents with strong forces acting on the left upper abdomen. Upper abdominal pain in the area of the spleen, which occurs mainly after eating, is in most cases not caused by the spleen but by other organs.
The pain then radiates into the area where the spleen is located. The most common cause is the stomach lining, which can either be inflamed or show an ulcer. The consumption of food increases the production of gastric acid in the stomach, which is important for digestion.
This irritates the mucous membrane, so that the pain after eating is increased. However, the pancreas can also be the cause of left-sided pain in the upper abdomen after eating. Since this also plays an important role in digestion, the pain here is also food-related.
Since the tail part of the pancreas in particular is very close to the spleen, the pain cannot be precisely attributed. It is also possible for an inflammation of the pancreas to spread to the spleen, which can lead to severe pain. In the case of an acute inflammation of the pancreas affecting the tail area, or if a tumor is located there, it may be necessary to remove the spleen as well as the affected part of the pancreas.
Excessive consumption of alcohol has many negative effects on the body. Besides the damage to the liver, the spleen is also affected. In most cases this is a consequence of the liver damage.
Regular consumption of alcohol can lead to a change in the structure of the liver, so that cirrhosis of the liver develops. The blood, which flows from the abdominal organs back to the heart, first flows through the liver. However, this is not possible or only possible to a limited extent in the case of cirrhosis of the liver, resulting in a backlog.
The blood accumulates back to the spleen and the blood cells are increasingly broken down there. Since the normal function of the spleen is thus exceeded, it increases as a result of alcohol consumption. An enlarged spleen puts pressure on the surrounding organs and can cause pain.
During pregnancy, all organs in the abdominal cavity are displaced by the growing child and change their position.Especially at the end of pregnancy, the organs of the upper abdomen, such as the spleen, can be increasingly pushed upwards and compressed. This additional pressure can cause pain. Especially if there is an enlarged spleen, this can cause pain in the spleen.
The movement of the unborn child and deep breathing or coughing can further increase this pain. In most cases, these spleen pains are harmless, but if they persist longer or are very severe, a doctor should be consulted in order to rule out possible serious causes or to be able to detect them early on. This usually requires ultrasound examinations.
