Asplenia

​Prevention of infection in asplenia

When your child has undergone splenectomy or if he/ she is functionally asplenic, you will need to seek prompt medical attention if your child has a fever, especially if associated with shivering or shaking and feels dizzy or faint.

You should inform your doctor that your child has undergone splenectomy or if he/ she is functionally asplenic.

What can be done to reduce the risk of infection in asplenia?

Most infections can be avoided through these measures:

Immunisation

• Immunisation with pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae Type B vaccines.
• If your child is scheduled to undergo elective splenectomy, pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae Type B vaccines should be administered at least 14 days before surgery. If it is not possible to administer these vaccines before splenectomy, they can be given after the 14th post-operative day. Your child should also receive the pneumococcal, meningococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae Type B vaccines if he/ she is functionally asplenic.
• It is also recommended to have the influenza vaccination once a year.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis (prevention)

• If your child has undergone splenectomy or is functionally asplenic, your doctor would prescribe an antibiotic for prevention of infection to be taken daily (eg. oral penicillin V or amoxicillin). The exact duration of antibiotic prophylaxis would be determined by your doctor.

The information above on Asplenia is also available for download in pdf format.