Splenectomy in childhood and the hazard of overwhelming infection.

Age Factors Child, Preschool Gaucher Disease/surgery Hepatitis/complications Humans Hypertension, Portal/complications Infections/etiology Lymphatic Diseases/complications Metabolism, Inborn Errors/complications Pain Insensitivity, Congenital/surgery Pneumococcal Infections/etiology Portal Vein Purpura, Thrombocytopenic Spherocytosis, Hereditary/surgery Spleen/physiology Splenectomy/adverse effects Splenic Neoplasms/surgery Splenic Rupture/surgery Splenomegaly/surgery Thalassemia/surgery Thrombosis/surgery