There is also a deficiency of T-cell independent antibodies, such as those reactive to the polysaccharide capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae.The risk to asplenic patients has been expressed as equivalent to an adult dying in a road traffic accident (in every 100 people without spleens, 1 to 5 would develop a severe infection per decade) (reference UK Splenectomy Trust Advice)—hence sensible precautions are advisable. Increased platelet counts can be seen in individuals without a functioning spleen. Diagnosis
Diagnosis is confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography and detection of Howell-Jolly bodies in red blood cells. Management
To minimise the risks associated with splenectomy, antibiotic and vaccination protocols have been established, but are often poorly adhered to by physicians and patients due to the complications resulting from antibiotic prophylaxis such as development of an overpopulation of Clostridium difficile in the intestinal tract. Antibiotic prophylaxis
Because of the increased risk of infection, physicians administer oral antibiotics as prophylaxis after a surgical splenectomy, or starting at birth for congenital or functional asplenia. Those with asplenia are also cautioned to start a full-dose course of antibiotics at the first onset of an upper or lower respiratory tract infection (for example, sore throat or cough), or at the onset of any fever.
Methylprednisolone succinate, sold under the brand names Solu-Medrol among others, is a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid and a corticosteroid ester—specifically the C21 succinate ester of methylprednisolone—which is used by intravenous administration. Methylprednisolone succinate is provided as two different salts when used as a pharmaceutical drug: a sodium salt (methylprednisolone sodium succinate; brand name Solu-Medrol, others) and a hydrogen salt (methylprednisolone hemisuccinate or methylprednisolone hydrogen succinate; brand name Urbason). See also
List of corticosteroid esters § Methylprednisolone esters


== References ==