Folic acid supplements - 1 mg per day
Splenectomy is the treatment of choice. It does not correct the spherocytosis or the membrane defects but will eliminate the site of haemolysis. The blood smear acquires the changes typical of the postsplenectomy state - Howell-Jolly bodies, target cells, siderocytes and acanthocytes.
However, splenectomy increases susceptibility to infection from pneumonia and other encapsulated bacteria, especially in infancy and childhood, and so is usually delayed until the patient is older than 4 years. It may be unecessary in mild cases which present late in life.
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.