Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you've been diagnosed with an enlarged spleen, ask your doctor whether you should avoid activities that could cause a ruptured spleen. For instance, people with mononucleosis — a viral infection that can cause an enlarged spleen — may be asked to avoid contact sports and other activities that increase the risk of abdominal trauma for several weeks. Protecting the spleen from bumps and blows may reduce the risk of a ruptured spleen.
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- Landaw SA, et al. Approach to the adult patient with splenomegaly and other splenic disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Isenhour J, et al. General approach to blunt abdominal trauma in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Clinical policy: Critical issues in the evaluation of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute blunt abdominal trauma. Irving, Texas: American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www.acep.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=8808. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Practice management guidelines for the nonoperative management of blunt injury to the liver and spleen. Chicago, Ill.: Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. http://www.east.org/tpg/livspleen.pdf. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Patient information for laparoscopic spleen removal (splenectomy) from SAGES. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. http://www.sages.org/sagespublication.php?doc=PI12. Accessed Oct. 13, 2010.
- Schooley RT. Epstein-Barr virus infection. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/201609212-3/0/1492/0.html. Accessed Oct. 18, 2010.

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