Asplenia

I have asplenia due to a complete splenectomy in ~2010.

OPSI Symptoms

Although asplenia places someone at increased risk of a wide variety of infections, there are particular symptoms associated with overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI):

• Initial presentation could be mild viral symptoms, such as fever or coughing.
• Later symptoms may include shakes, shivers, chills, diarrhea, vomiting, malaise, myalgia, headache and abdominal pain.
• May progress rapidly to coma, refractory septic shock, and finally death in as little as 24 hours.

OSPI Infections

Important infections that can be associated with overwhelming post-splenectomy infection are:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Meningococcus

Ongoing precautions

Vaccines:

• Get the yearly flu vaccine.