Mastitis and Abscess

Mastitis is the breast inflammation. It can appear both in men and women, however, it more often influences women and particularly those that breastfeed.  Usually it is an infection, namely, a condition which is caused by microbe infection and, in women who breastfeed, it develops within the first 6 – 8 weeks of breastfeeding, while it can also develop after weaning. If the infection is not effectively treated, the body organism isolates the region which has been infected, collecting pus within it, and an abscess is created.

Causes of Mastitis

Mastitis usually appears in the following cases:

• Destruction of wall of the lactiferous ducts: With the more incriminating factor being smoking, the wall of the lactiferous ducts is destroyed, fluid is diffused in the surrounding area, leading to development of inflammation, while when microbes also enter, an infection or even an abscess is established.
• Bacteria: The skin surface, as well as the mouth of the baby in women who breastfeed, harbor bacteria, which can enter the lactiferous ducts. Then, they may be multiplied and cause an infection.
• Wrong breast-feeding technique: The milk is trapped in the breast and the lactiferous duct is blocked. The milk stagnates, microorganisms grow and thus an infection is caused.

Symptoms of Mastitis

The symptoms of mastitis are usually the following:

• redness (reddening) on the skin of breast
• sensitivity and a warm sensation upon palpation
• a general feeling of malaise/discomfort
• edema (swelling)
• pain and a sensation of burning (all the time or during breast-feeding)
• fever of 38,4 degrees (or higher)

If you present the above combination of symptoms, you should not neglect to visit your doctor immediately.

Treatment of Mastitis

Mastitis is usually treated with antibiotics and analgesics. Moreover, what is required is resting, hot compression bags with camomile, consumption of lots of fluids and, in the event of breast feeding, a change in the way the mother breastfeeds while increasing breastfeeding, so that no residue remain in the breast.

Abscess

In the case where mastitis is neglected or is not successfully treated, an abscess may be created. In order to treat an abscess, aspiration of pus or surgical incision and drainage is required.

Treatment of an Abscess

Initially, the doctor will remove the pus through a needle aspiration and, in case of relapse, surgical incision and drainage may be performed. If the abscess re-recurs, excision of the suffering ducts may be performed. In the event that the patient breastfeeds, a breast pump is placed, which helps in pumping of milk, while interruption of breastfeeding from this particular breast is recommended until the patient improves.