Western Australians without a functioning spleen and their treating clinicians can now access free specialist education and support.
WA Health has recently awarded a grant to Spleen Australia, enabling it to expand its services to WA. In WA, an estimated 2,000 people live without a spleen (asplenia) or with reduced splenic function (hyposplenism).
The Spleen Australia clinical service and registry operates out of the Alfred Hospital's Infectious Disease's Department and provides ongoing education and support, including personalised immunisation plans and strategies for reducing the risk of infections.
Such plans are important because the spleen helps protect the body against bacterial infections. Many of these episodes of serious infection are preventable through free routine vaccines provided by the Australian Government. Although people without a functioning spleen can fight off most infections, serious infections can develop quickly and lead to significant disability or death.
