Asplenia is a condition which means the person either has no, or a poorly functioning, spleen. The spleen plays a vital role in the immune system and children with Asplenia have a much greater risk of serious infection. It is a lifelong condition so education for the child and family is a key priority for effective treatment.

If your child has Asplenia and they show symptoms of an infection medical attention should be sought immediately. One treatment is the use of preventative antibiotics, which may decrease risk of infection but will not eliminate it.