Hazard of Overwhelming Infection after Splenectomy in Childhood

THE exact role of the spleen in preventing or suppressing bacterial infections in human beings is unknown. The spleen, an important part of the reticuloendothelial system, acts as a filter for circulating debris including bacteria and as an important source of lymphoid cells and antibody production. There should therefore be little doubt that splenectomy may alter the ability to prevent or to suppress some infections. However, in a child, the extent to which this change is clinically significant has been a source of continuing controversy.Since the initial report by King and Shumacker in 19521 a number of articles have . . .