18 Month Old With Enlarged Spleen

Posted , 3 users are following.

My little one started having virus like symptoms on Thanksgiving. Fever, throwing up, not feeling weel. He got over this pretty quickly. We took him to the docs, everything was fine and within a virus prognosis.

Week later, he starting vomiting again. Twice in one day after eating. No fever, not really showing distress or sickness. Took him back to docs. The PED noticed an enlarged spleen and a little weight loss, not much, few ounces.

Ran a CBC, came back normal minus a slight elevation of WBC (13.1), which was normal in her mind. Sent us home after and wanted us to come back to check the spleen in a few days.

We of course freaked out being we know what spleens do. He threw up the next day and thus we brought him right back. Doctor said the spleen is still swollen, not as big, but we needed to get an ultrasound to stage it. She also sent us off for 16 different blood tests to find out the cause.

?She doesn't feel it's Leukemia because the WBC was checked twice in a few months (first one was a few months ago) and the Hg was not low. It's likely something else, but she wanted to be sure and check the shape of the cells to fully rule it out.

So, the question to the forum, what else could cause this or is cancer pretty high on the list when it comes to spleens? Not a lot of babies/toddlers seem to have this because everything I see points to pretty heavy diseases and cancers.

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    Mononucleosis or other infective diseases would be first on my list. He had viral infection symptoms. I would rather not consider this to be a coincidence but the root. x

     

    • Posted

      His heart should also perhaps be checked if it wasn't. If I remember correctly certain strains of enteroviruses in the coxackie family may cause splenomegaly and pericardial/endocardial infections.

    • Posted

      Yeah, the docs are testing him for that too. Just didn't think that was possible at his age. Normally happens in older kids like 80% of the time.

    • Posted

      I was about his age when it happened to me. I know it took docs a while to figure it out. X

    • Posted

      Was diagnosed once I could no longer hold any food down and lost loads of weight. My mother said they didn't suspect mono so at the time they didn't test. Hope it is straightforward and he gets well really soon. X

  • Posted

    Two thoughts, mononucleosis and sickle cell anemia.

    Vomiting can be caused by an enlarged spleen pressing against the stomach.

    Make a list of questions to ask the pediatrician. Be direct so that you receive direct answers.

    It is so very difficult when a toddler is ill.

    hugs

    • Posted

      We did ask about the vomiting and spleen, PED didn't seem to agree it's caused by the spleen causing it. But I don't know.

      He vomited again last night. Caughed and then vomited. Was very active after. No fever etc.

      My wife reminded me he had this a lot many months ago. Caught and vomit. They assumed it was reflux and put him on medication. It resolved and we took him off.

  • Posted

    Reflux....you took him off of the reflux medication but as a toddler,he is unable to avoid bending at the waist. He doesn't understand to stop eating and drinking when he feels the reflux at the top of his throat.

    Smaller, blander foods. And try to raise the head of his bed about 4-5 inches so that the stomach contents remain in his stomach when he lays down. No eating or drinking two hours before bed...tough for a wee one.

    GERD literally burns the esophagus.

    Please give him extra hugs

  • Posted

    Reflux....you took him off of the reflux medication but as a toddler,he is unable to avoid bending at the waist. He doesn't understand to stop eating and drinking when he feels the reflux at the top of his throat.

    Smaller, blander foods. And try to raise the head of his bed about 4-5 inches so that the stomach contents remain in his stomach when he lays down. No eating or drinking two hours before bed...tough for a wee one.

    GERD literally burns the esophagus.

    Please give him extra hugs

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