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Many women know what mastitis is, especially those who have carried and fed a child.

This is the name for inflammation of the mammary gland, the causative agent of which in 95% of cases is Staphylococcus aureus. It can be acute or chronic, lactational or non-lactational, caused by infection with harmful organisms, or appear due to stagnation of milk.

After childbirth, nine out of ten women experience it; first-time mothers are most susceptible to inflammation. Moreover, the disease can appear in men and even children; we will talk about all the varieties in detail in this article.

Mastitis is usually divided into several forms or stages, which smoothly flow from one to another if the disease is not treated. Each of them is accompanied by its own symptoms.

Serous mastitis begins when harmful organisms invade the breast tissue, symptoms:

• The temperature rises to 38-38.5 degrees, the patient shudders;
• The body weakens, appetite is lost, headache appears;
• A constant and nagging pain appears in the chest area, increasing over time;
• The skin in the area of ​​inflammation turns red and thickened areas appear.

The infiltrative stage is accompanied by the union of foci of inflammation, and swelling appears.

Accompanied by:

• High body temperature;
• Increasing pain;
• The mammary glands become dense;
• Lymph nodes in the armpit area become enlarged.

Purulent mastitis, the most difficult phase, in which the infiltrate begins to fill with pus.

Symptoms:

• Body temperature rises to 39.5 degrees or higher;
• Severe and continuous pain appears in the affected area, often throbbing;
• The lymph nodes in the armpit area continue to enlarge and become painful.

Inflammation of the mammary glands in a nursing mother is called lactation mastitis; it is often observed soon after the birth of a child, and during feeding. The likelihood of its occurrence during breastfeeding increases if the mother expresses milk incorrectly or puts the baby to the breast. This leads to lactose stagnation and the appearance of microtraumas in the nipple, through which microbes penetrate the body.

The fibrocystic form of the disease can appear not only in lactating women, but also in men. The disease can be provoked by disrupted hormonal balance in the body, climate change, mechanical damage to the mammary gland, causing necrosis of fatty tissue. Diabetic patients are also prone to this disease.

Male mastitis is extremely rare, since at birth the glands in men are reduced, and therefore they are not intended for feeding children, and remain as undeveloped rudiments. However, hormonal changes may well provoke mastitis, due to which the glandular tissue begins to grow and then becomes inflamed.

In general, the symptoms resemble those that appear in other breast diseases. It can be confused with inflammation of the skin, subcutaneous tissues or muscles in the chest area, so before starting treatment, you need to be examined by a doctor.

Symptoms in men:

• The mammary glands increase in size;
• Redness appears in the affected area;
• The inflamed area is swollen and painful;
• Other signs of inflammation.

Due to the fact that the disease is provoked by hormonal imbalance, other symptoms appear, such as decreased potency, voice changes, muscle and fat mass can be redistributed.

In this case, all symptoms remain mild until mastitis becomes purulent. The diagnosis becomes obvious, but the only treatment available at this stage is surgical intervention.

Signs of mastitis

Since inflammation of the mammary glands most often occurs in women, they are the ones who are most familiar with all its manifestations. It is quite simple to recognize it - increased temperature, change in breast size, tissue compaction, pain and increased sensitivity. In a nursing mother, the disease can cause symptoms similar to the common flu; the disease develops very quickly, a few days after the first symptoms appear, the skin begins to turn red, and the lactation process causes a burning sensation and pain.

In most cases, the disease affects only one breast; 6 months after the birth of the child, the threat of inflammation becomes minimal. But in the first two to three weeks immediately after the baby is born, the probability of occurrence is quite high, and this persists for three months.

If a woman has already gotten sick once and has treated mastitis, she remains at an increased risk of reoccurrence of the disease. When signs appear, treatment must begin immediately, moreover, “grandmother’s remedies,” no matter how proven and reliable, must be combined with treatment under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise mastitis may become purulent, after which surgery will be required.

Women over 30 years of age may experience non-lactational mastitis, which develops against a background of weakened immunity and the body as a whole, which causes sluggish pathologies to appear.

At first, the signs remain subtle, making diagnosis difficult. Between 40 and 60 years of age, symptoms may resemble breast cancer to determine the cause of the inflammation by excision of tissue in the affected area of ​​the breast.

Signs of mastitis in men are very small compared to women, and therefore inflammatory processes cannot lead to noticeable discomfort. Only if mastitis appears against the background of a hormonal imbalance, simultaneously with a weakened immune system, and if no measures are taken to treat it, the disease can develop to a purulent stage.

The disease can also develop in children, most often in newborns. Appears as a result of infectious infection in the first few weeks of a baby’s life; harmful microorganisms can enter the mammary gland area through blood vessels from other foci of infection, or due to mechanical damage. It proceeds extremely quickly, and within a day it can reach the purulent stage. The intensity of inflammation and the likelihood of its occurrence does not depend on the gender of the child.

The symptoms differ little from those indicated above:

• A sharp increase in temperature;
• Apathy or excessive excitability of the child;
• Refusal to eat;
• The affected gland increases significantly in size;
• On the second day, the affected area swells, turns red, and becomes painful.

If there is even the slightest suspicion of mastitis in an infant, you should immediately seek medical help; the child and mother are most often admitted to a hospital, where the infant will be treated with antibiotics and vitamins.

Mastitis occurs in girls during adolescence; this is a consequence of hormonal changes in the young body, due to which the immune system is temporarily weakened. It can develop to complex forms only if nothing is done.

You can learn more about the signs of mastopathy here:

Treatment of mastitis

Regardless of the stage of mastitis, it must be treated under the supervision of a doctor. As soon as a nursing mother appears the first signs of illness, such as malaise, high fever, she should contact her treating gynecologist, he will conduct an examination, determine the cause of the disease, and prescribe appropriate treatment. That is, treating mastitis at home is not recommended.

The first thing the doctor will do for examination is a blood test, the second measure will be to culture the milk for sterility, this will make it possible to determine the pathogen by their reaction to the antibiotic. Verifying the diagnosis takes some time, so if severe symptoms are present, treatment begins immediately and is subsequently adjusted depending on the pathogen. Breastfeeding is stopped as it may harm the baby. Milk contains both the pathogen and medications introduced into the body. The period for which the child needs to be weaned and transferred to artificial feeding is discussed with the attending physician.

In medical practice, antibiotic treatment is first prescribed. To do this, choose those that penetrate the breast tissue as quickly as possible, and they must be as effective as possible against the causative agent of infection. This selection of medications allows you to create a maximum concentration of the antibiotic in the tissues of the mammary gland, where it can fight harmful microorganisms. The antibiotic is administered intramuscularly or intravenously; the doctor may also prescribe drugs in tablets.

The use of antibacterial drugs lasts 5-10 days, depending on the doctor’s prescription.

It is important for breastfeeding women to empty breasts that are sore to avoid milk stagnation, so your doctor may prescribe hormonal medications designed to speed up milk flow and release. Expressing is a mandatory procedure during treatment; it must be done every 3-3.5 hours.

Naturally, such measures are not necessary in case of mastitis in men. Treatment in this case comes down to conventional medical intervention using antibiotics.

If the disease has developed to a purulent form, surgical intervention and further treatment in a hospital are indicated. The purulent abscess is opened in order to prevent further development of the disease. The doctor may prescribe infusion therapy, which involves administering glucose and saline solutions through an IV, this reduces intoxication and supports metabolism. If the disease appears due to weakened immunity, the use of immunomodulators is allowed.

After purulent mastitis has been cured, the milk produced in the breast is checked for the presence of pathogens or drug residues. The study is carried out for about a week, if it shows a negative result, the mother can feed her child again.

Many people think about treating mastitis with folk remedies, but the disease is too serious to self-medicate. Applying various herbs and compresses to the chest can indeed promote healing, but such “medicines” can also cause harm if used thoughtlessly. They can be used, but only after consulting a doctor.

As you know, it is much easier to prevent the development of a disease than to treat it. A woman may well exclude the occurrence of mastitis after the birth of a child, or reduce the likelihood of its occurrence to a minimum, for this she can:

By following the correct feeding schedule so that it remains natural and avoiding stress, you can minimize the likelihood of breast inflammation.

While carrying a child, the mammary glands are prepared for future lactation; if mastopathy is present, or if the woman has previously undergone breast surgery, it is necessary to consult a mammologist.

In the second half of pregnancy, you need to wash your breasts every day with cool water and wipe them dry with a hard towel, massaging the nipples. The use of special ointments and creams is allowed. Hygiene cannot be neglected even after childbirth, the mammary glands must be washed every day up to 3-4 times, the bra must be comfortable. The mother should have the opportunity to take regular walks and eat properly.

By following these simple rules, you can avoid the occurrence of mastitis and ensure normal feeding of the child.

Mastitis is an infectious and inflammatory process occurring in the mammary glands. The disease is of two types: lactational and non-lactational. The first type occurs in women in the last weeks of pregnancy or at the beginning of breastfeeding. The second type can appear in any representative of the fair sex. Treatment of mastitis includes both folk and traditional methods. The therapeutic course is developed depending on the patient’s condition

Reasons for the development of mastitis

The main cause of mastitis is infection of the mammary gland. Bacteria enter the breast area through the milk ducts or through the blood circulation. The causative agents of mastitis can be:

Mastitis can develop as a result of wound infection due to mechanical damage to the mammary glands or nipples. It often appears in women who have suffered from lactostasis for a long time.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of mastitis vary depending on the stage of the disease. The longer the disease is left without treatment, the stronger it develops. A mild form of infection gradually turns into severe purulent inflammation. If you do not treat mastitis at this stage, you can provoke necrosis of the affected tissues.

It is very important to notice the development of mastitis in the early stages. The disease can be recognized by the following symptoms:

In most cases, mastitis affects one breast. According to statistics, only 21% of women who were diagnosed with breast infection suffered from a bilateral form of the disease.

How is mastitis diagnosed?

If mastitis is suspected, the doctor listens to the patient’s complaints and studies her medical history. After which he conducts an initial examination of the mammary glands and palpation. To make an accurate diagnosis, the specialist prescribes an examination, which includes:

Ultrasound is used to determine where the inflammation is located and whether mastitis has become purulent.

Traditional methods of treating mastitis

Diagnosis and therapy should be entrusted to a specialist. He will conduct an examination, find out what form of the disease the woman is suffering from, and prescribe an appropriate therapeutic course.

Traditional medicine offers two ways to combat mastitis: taking medications and surgery.

When treatment is successfully completed, you can continue to breastfeed your baby.

How to treat mastitis with folk remedies?

When treating mastitis, you should not rely solely on folk remedies. If in the early stages of the disease they are able to cope with the development of the infectious-inflammatory process and alleviate the patient’s condition, then with the purulent type of the disease they will no longer be able to help.

Most of the folk methods of combating mastitis are aimed at eliminating symptoms. Non-traditional remedies help relieve pain, reduce swelling, and heal wounds. Herbal decoctions increase the body's protective functions, which speeds up the healing process.

Before you start fighting mastitis using traditional methods, you should consult your doctor. He will assess the patient’s general condition and tell you whether folk remedies will cause deterioration.

Compresses, rubbing, ointments

Treatment of mastitis with unconventional methods includes: compresses and rubbing, homemade ointments, herbal infusions and decoctions.

• For compresses, use burdock, plantain leaves, gauze or cotton cloth. The selected base is smeared with honey or camphor oil. You can also use grated baked onions. Compresses are applied to the mammary glands, secured and left overnight. They help relieve swelling, reduce pain, and fight inflammation.
• You can use herbal decoctions of chamomile, calendula, sage, and clover for compresses. A gauze bandage is moistened in a warm infusion and applied to the chest for 15–20 minutes. The decoction should not be hot, as heating the mammary glands can worsen the course of the disease.
• An ointment to combat mastitis is prepared from base oils, starch, honey and propolis. The ingredients are mixed in arbitrary quantities to make the product thick. Apply to the mammary glands at night. Sea buckthorn, grape seed, and wheat germ oils are well suited for creating ointments. They have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
• To enhance the effect of the ointment, you can add 5-10 drops of essential oils of tea tree, lavender, rosemary, bergamot, and sage. They help cope with the spread of infection and have an antiseptic effect. Sage oil reduces breast milk production.

Infusions and other means to boost immunity

During the treatment of mastitis, it is recommended to use infusions rich in vitamin C. For their preparation, raspberry, currant, cherry and rose hip leaves are used. You can supplement the drink with herbs that have an anti-inflammatory effect: chamomile, sage, thyme, mint. The proportions of raw materials for the infusion are arbitrary. It should be taken 2-3 times a day, 200 ml.

To strengthen the immune system, it is also useful to eat a teaspoon of honey per day. Eat more fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits.

Folk remedies can prove themselves as maintenance therapy. They can improve the patient’s condition and speed up the process of fighting the disease. But traditional medicine cannot completely replace the course of traditional treatment.

Preventive measures

Avoiding the development of mastitis is not so difficult. First of all, a woman must observe the rules of personal hygiene while bearing and feeding a child. Other preventive measures include:

In the early stages, mastitis can be cured using a set of folk and traditional methods. The fight against the disease will take 1–2 weeks, depending on the individual characteristics of the patient. When mastitis turns into a purulent form, surgical intervention is indispensable. Therefore, at the first signs of the development of the disease, you should consult a doctor to get timely help.

Mastitis in a nursing mother - video

Reading time: 5 min

Inflammation of the mammary glands is quite common today, so knowledge about mastitis and its treatment at home will be useful for every woman.

Pain in the chest area, increased body temperature, enlargement of the gland and its hardening are the main signs of the disease.

There is no point in delaying treatment, as simple inflammation can progress to a purulent stage, which is dangerous to the health and life of the patient.

Briefly about the disease

Mastitis (breast) is a common female disease. Often it affects women after childbirth, when insufficient knowledge about breastfeeding leads to.

Pyogenic microbes that enter the gland through cracks in the nipples and wounds in the area of ​​the lymph nodes cause an inflammatory process.

Timely diagnosis and proper treatment of mastitis in women allows you to avoid exacerbation of the disease and surgical intervention.

It is not difficult to identify mastitis; the disease has pronounced symptoms. The symptoms of mastitis are as follows:

• the density of the gland increases, and with the slightest pressure it becomes unbearably painful;
• there is a nagging pain, the chest enlarges somewhat (expands);
• an increase in the patient’s body temperature, chills are possible;
• painful sensations when feeding the baby.

There are several types of the disease: lactation, non-lactation, acute, destructive, serous, abscessing and infiltrative.

Discomfort, pain and lumps in the breast are signals to immediately visit a mammologist. After examination, the attending physician will determine the stage of inflammation of the mammary gland and make a prescription.

Treatment of mastitis with folk remedies is not the main solution to the problem. Traditional medicine can only help and enhance the effect of drug therapy.

Additional methods for treating mastitis

The activity of pyogenic bacteria can be extinguished with special ointments and medications. The sooner you start treating the disease, the faster it will go away and will not cause complications.

Additional treatment methods for mastitis include:

• Physiotherapy, in particular aquatic. This action is aimed at cleansing the skin.

The physiotherapy procedure for mastitis has a cleansing effect.

But be careful, you cannot use hot water when dousing, showering or taking a bath. This will intensify the inflammatory process.

• Exercising is also helpful in fighting inflammation.

Some exercises will speed up blood flow in problem areas, promote the outflow of lymph and the resorption of compactions.

These are push-ups or squeezing a tennis ball between your palms at chest level. The exercises are simple, but they must be carried out constantly until the disease is eliminated.

• Cold treatment of mastitis at home involves rubbing the chest with a cosmetic ice cube.

For greater effectiveness, make ice from herbal infusions. Such procedures are not recommended to be performed more than 3 times a day.

Regular cooling hardens and strengthens blood vessels, epidermal cells, and promotes lymph outflow.

Rubbing with dry ice is also suitable for a nursing mother with purulent or infiltrative mastitis. Cold slows down milk production and makes pumping easier.

• Limit your intake of salty foods. Salt particles provoke swelling and increase pain.

Folk remedies, compresses are the most effective method of treatment. Medicinal herbs, homemade products and castor oil will help quickly eliminate the problem.

It is necessary to use folk recipes for the treatment of breastfeeding after preliminary consultation with a specialist. Some remedies do not produce tangible results and can cause harm.

Women with mastitis should stop breastfeeding and express milk completely. Breastfeeding can continue after recovery.

Traditional treatment of illness

There are many recipes and folk methods for eliminating the problem. They are available, effective and harmless when used correctly.

Let's look at the most popular methods of dealing with breastfeeding.

Cabbage against mastitis

Cabbage will help cope with inflammation of the mammary gland in women. Before use, wash it thoroughly to avoid infection.

Used in several ways:

1. As a compress. The leaf from the inner, concave side is beaten with a hammer until the juice appears. For greater effect, the inside is greased with butter or a squeeze of fresh beets. Then apply the sheet to the sore chest and fix it. It is advisable to carry out the procedure before going to bed and remove the compress after waking up.
2. The leaf is passed through a meat grinder. The gruel is mixed with kefir, then laid out on a gauze bandage and applied to the chest. It is also recommended to do the procedure at night.
3. For nursing patients, doctors advise first scalding the sheet with boiling water and only then applying it to the breast. The product is applied until it cools completely. Be careful with this method: improper heating can worsen the situation and increase inflammation.

Camphor oil and breastfeeding

Camphor oil for mastitis is another well-known and effective treatment method.

The advantages of the product include high anesthetic and antiseptic properties. You can use camphor oil to combat the disease in several ways:

1. An alcohol compress is made from vodka and camphor oil. Keep the compress on the skin for no more than 15 minutes. Excessive heat can harm the patient’s health and increase inflammation, so consult a specialist before using the product.
2. Prepare an ointment from oil (1 tbsp) and regular baby cream (2 tbsp). Apply ointment regularly for mastitis for 25-30 minutes.
3. Mix camphor and sea buckthorn oils in equal parts. Rub the oil mixture into the skin of your chest before going to bed, and rinse off the remaining product the next morning.
4. Make a healing cream with the addition of camphor oil extract. To prepare the product, mix honey (1 tbsp), softened butter (1 tbsp) and no more than 1 tsp. camphor extract. Spread a small amount of cream over the problem area, place polyethylene on top and secure everything with linen (cotton) cloth.

Avoid warming procedures so as not to provoke complications and an increase in inflamed areas.

We treat illness with honey

Honey is a storehouse of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. It has healing, soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it is widely used in eliminating the disease. Honey is used to prepare ointments and compresses.

We offer several effective recipes:

1. Honey cake is a simple way to relieve inflammation. Mix natural honey with flour in a ratio of 1:2, you should get a dense pancake. It is applied to the problem area at night.
2. Baked onions with honey guarantee a soft and delicate solution to the problem of the mammary glands. You need to cut the onion into 2 parts and bake it in the oven. Then apply a little honey to the cut and apply it to the sore breast.
3. You can use the onion juice released during baking separately. Mix juice with honey. Honey and onion compresses will speed up the patient’s recovery.
4. A compress made from aloe extract, Kalanchoe with the addition of corn oil and honey will be useful. The ingredients, except honey, are mixed in equal proportions. After 12 hours, honey is added to the mixture. The prepared product is applied to the affected area and wrapped with cotton cloth. Honey-flower compress has a healing and analgesic effect.

Chamomile against illness

Medicinal chamomile will also help cure mastitis of the mammary glands. The product's affordable price and ease of use are guaranteed.

The benefits of chamomile include antibacterial, analgesic and calming properties. Regular herbal lotions will relieve swelling and get rid of harmful bacteria.

Chamomile flowers are used in the following way:

1. Brew a strong decoction at the rate of 3 tbsp. l. flowers for 1 cup of boiling water.
2. When the herbal decoction has infused and cooled (this will take about half an hour), soak a cotton cloth with it and place it on the problematic part of the body.
3. After 15-20 minutes, change the compress.
4. Repeat the steps 2 - 3 more times.

Treatment with folk remedies is a painstaking, serious task.

Before treating your breasts with homemade ointments, seek advice from a specialist and test for an allergic reaction.

By these actions you will protect yourself from unnecessary problems and complications.

Salt and castor oil for mastitis

Salt is a universal product that everyone has in their kitchen. With its help, you can treat mastitis at home. To do this, the following actions are required:

1. Place 1 tbsp in warm water (50 g). l. salt. Wait until it dissolves completely.
2. Blot cotton fabric with cutouts for nipples with saline solution and place it on your chest. To enhance the effect, place a plastic film on top of the bandage and secure everything with a bandage.
3. When you feel that the compress has cooled down, repeat the procedure.

Castor oil can reduce inflammation of the mammary gland in a woman. The composition of the oil contains useful components. They relieve pain and swelling, accelerate the resorption of seals.

For treatment, you need to soak a piece of gauze with oily liquid and apply it to your chest. To prevent the compress from moving, secure it with a bra. The procedure is performed at night, the compress is removed in the morning.

Perform castor oil compresses for 7-10 days to consolidate the results.

During the postpartum period, the risk of mastitis greatly increases. To prevent the development of the disease, listen to the advice of a specialist:

• follow the rules of breast care before and after feeding;
• express milk in a timely manner to prevent stagnation;
• do not injure the nipples and areolas, this will make it more difficult for bacteria to get inside;
• Treat your nipples daily with petroleum jelly or rosehip oil extract.

Try to prevent inflammation of the mammary glands as much as possible, then treatment will not be needed. To do this, visit your doctor regularly and protect your breasts from injury and hypothermia.

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And remember that camphor, honey, salt and other folk remedies are effective only in combination with drug therapy. Be healthy!

Mastitis, or, as it is also defined, breastfeeding, is a disease in which the mammary gland becomes inflamed. Mastitis, the symptoms of which can be observed in women aged 15-45 years, in the vast majority of cases is associated with breastfeeding, but the possibility of this disease appearing immediately before childbirth or without any connection with them or pregnancy cannot be ruled out.

general description

Mastitis is observed in about 70% of cases in women who have given birth for the first time, in 27% in women who have given birth for the second time, and, accordingly, in 3% of cases in women who have given birth multiple times. It is noteworthy that mastitis can also develop not only in women without a corresponding connection with pregnancy, but also in girls and even men.

Mastitis not associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding is defined as non-lactation mastitis, it appears mainly due to trauma to the mammary gland, and a variant of the development of this disease cannot be excluded as a cause as a result of the relevance of hormonal disorders for the female body.

Causes of mastitis

The main cause of mastitis is the entry of bacteria directly into the breast tissue. This can happen through cracks in the nipples, which in this case act as an open gate for infection to enter the specified environment, as well as through the blood, which occurs in the presence of chronic infectious foci in the body. In the latter case, such foci include pyelonephritis, chronic tonsillitis and other diseases.

It should be noted that in a normal state of health, the entry of a certain amount of bacteria into the mammary gland leads to their corresponding destruction, carried out by the immune system. Meanwhile, the vast majority of cases indicate a weakened female body after childbirth, and accordingly, the immune system ceases to properly fight infections.

As an important point contributing to the development of the disease we are considering, we should highlight lactostasis, in which stagnation occurs in the ducts of the milk glands, which occurs due to insufficient expression of milk, incomplete expression, or due to rare feedings. Stagnation of milk in the ducts provides a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria, because milk as a whole has a lot of nutrients.

Mastitis: types

The following main types of mastitis are distinguished:

• lactation mastitis (postpartum mastitis) is the most common variant of the disease (about 85%), associated with breastfeeding;
• non-lactation mastitis (fibrocystic mastitis) - accordingly, occurs due to causes not related to breastfeeding;
• mastitis (breasts) of newborns - manifests itself in the form of engorgement of the mammary gland in a newborn baby, and gender is not a determining factor in this case; accordingly, the disease can develop in both boys and girls. The reason for its development is the transfer of lactogenic hormones from the maternal blood (that is, hormones that stimulate lactation).

Based on the characteristics of the current inflammatory process, the following types of mastitis are determined:

• acute lactostasis, in which milk does not secrete;
• serous mastitis;
• infiltrative acute mastitis;
• destructive mastitis;
• chronic mastitis (in purulent or non-purulent form).

In accordance with the specific area of ​​localization, the following types of mastitis are distinguished:

• subcutaneous mastitis;
• subareolar mastitis (that is, concentrated in the area under the areola);
• intramammary mastitis (concentrated directly in the mammary gland);
• retromammary mastitis (concentrated outside the breast).

Mastitis and lactostasis

One of the reasons that provokes lactostasis is the “irregularity” of the shape of the nipples (which is important for inverted or flat nipples), which makes it difficult for the child to suck the breast, and also leads to incomplete emptying when feeding the mammary glands, which, in turn, leads to lactostasis .

As we have already noted, lactostasis in general implies stagnation in the ducts of the milk glands due to insufficient pumping. As a result of this condition, the mammary gland becomes painful, focal lumps appear in it, disappearing under the influence of massage. Milk flows unevenly from the painful area of ​​the gland. Mostly, if not combined with mastitis, lactostasis is not accompanied by fever, but if lactostasis is not eliminated within a few days, it will inevitably transition to mastitis. Mastitis in this case is accompanied by a temperature of up to 39 degrees.

Accordingly, the basis for the development of mastitis is precisely lactostasis, which acts as the root cause. In addition to these factors, lactostasis is caused by a number of other options:

• improper attachment of the baby to the breast;
• the process of feeding the baby when taking only one position;
• giving the child a pacifier, which leads to subsequent tactics on his part as a “passive sucker”;
• use of a special nipple shield when feeding the baby;
• sleeping on your stomach;
• stress;
• tight clothes, bras;
• restrictions on the frequency of feeding the baby, time restrictions in this process, as a result of which the breast does not empty properly;
• excessive physical activity that spasms the gland ducts;
• bruises and chest injuries;
• feeding the baby without warming up after suffering from hypothermia;
• sudden transition to artificial feeding of the child.

Mastitis: symptoms

The clinic for manifestations of mastitis today has the following features:

• late onset, noted after a period of about 1 month from the date of birth;
• frequent appearance of subclinical and erased forms of the disease, the symptoms of which are not evidence of the true state of affairs regarding the process under consideration;
• the predominant variant of the appearance of infiltrative purulent mastitis in patients;
• duration of purulent mastitis.

The symptoms of mastitis depend on its specific form; below we will consider their main options.

Serous mastitis. The symptoms of the disease, as well as its course, are characterized by the severity of the manifestation; the onset of this mastitis occurs within 2 to 4 weeks from the moment of birth. There is an increase in temperature (up to 39 degrees), chills. Symptoms accompanying intoxication also appear in the form of weakness, headache, and general fatigue. First, patients experience heaviness in the mammary gland, and then pain, and milk stagnation occurs.

At the same time, there is a certain increase in the volume of the mammary gland, and the skin becomes red (hyperemic). When trying to express milk, severe pain is felt, but the result does not bring relief. The lack of adequate treatment measures, as well as the progression of inflammation, leads to the fact that serous mastitis develops into infiltrative mastitis.

Infiltrative mastitis. In this case, the chills experienced by the patient are quite strong, and pronounced tension and pain are felt in the mammary gland. Symptoms such as loss of appetite, insomnia, headache and general weakness are also relevant. There is also an enlargement of the mammary gland and redness of the skin. In addition, patients experience pain in the axillary lymph nodes, which is combined with pain on palpation (feeling). The untimely treatment of this form of the disease, as well as the lack of effectiveness in it, leads to the fact that the inflammation becomes purulent, this, in turn, ensures the transition to the corresponding, purulent form.

Purulent mastitis. Here the condition of the patients deteriorates significantly. Appetite decreases, weakness increases, and problems with sleep appear. The increase in temperature mainly remains within 39 degrees. Chills persist, the skin becomes pale, and sweating increases. There is still tension and pain in the mammary gland, its size is increased, redness is pronounced, and the skin is swollen. Expressing milk is greatly complicated, and pus can often be found in small portions obtained.

Abscessing mastitis. The predominant variants are areola abscess or furunculosis; retro- and intramammary abscesses in the form of purulent cavities are somewhat less common.

Phlegmonous mastitis. In this case, the inflammatory process captures a larger area of ​​the mammary gland, followed by melting of its tissue and switching to the surrounding tissue and skin. The patient's condition is generally defined as severe, the temperature is about 40 degrees.

Chills persist, intoxication has a pronounced character of its characteristic manifestations. There is a sharp increase in the volume of the mammary gland and swelling of its skin. In addition to redness of the skin, cyanosis is also noted in some areas of the affected gland. Palpation (palpation) indicates its pastiness (swelling), as well as pronounced pain. With this form of mastitis, the possibility of developing septic shock cannot be excluded.

Gangrenous mastitis. The course of the disease is significantly complicated, intoxication has extremely pronounced manifestations. Necrosis of the mammary gland develops (that is, its death occurs). The patient's condition is generally serious, the skin is pale, there is no appetite, and insomnia appears.

The temperature is about 40 degrees, the pulse is increased (up to 120 beats/min.). The affected gland is enlarged in size, swelling and pain are noted. The skin above it may be pale green or purplish-bluish; in some places there are areas of necrosis and blisters. There is no milk, the nipple is retracted. Enlargement and pain also occur in the area of ​​regional lymph nodes, which is revealed by palpation.

Diagnosis

The pronounced manifestations of the symptoms of the disease we are considering do not lead to any difficulties in making a diagnosis, which is based both on the general complaints of the patient and on an objective examination of her mammary glands.

It should be noted that underestimating the symptoms characteristic of the purulent process, as well as overestimating factors in the form of skin hyperemia and the absence of fluctuations by the doctor can lead to long-term treatment of the purulent form of mastitis, which in the end will simply be unjustified. Irrational antibacterial therapy in the case of abscessive mastitis or infiltrative-abscessive mastitis leads to a serious threat of developing the disease in its erased form, in which the symptoms do not determine the actual condition of the patient and the severity relevant to the inflammatory process.

Such patients initially have an elevated temperature, often experiencing redness and swelling of the skin, naturally within the mammary gland. These signs can be eliminated by prescribing antibiotics. As a result, the temperature drops to normal levels during the day with a possible slight increase in the evening. Local signs indicating purulent inflammation are absent or very weakly expressed. Pain in the mammary gland is moderate. Palpation reveals an infiltrate that remains the same size or gradually increases in size.

Infiltrative-abscessing mastitis, observed in more than half of the cases, has an infiltrate consisting of a large number of small purulent cavities, however, when using infiltrate puncture as a diagnostic method, pus can be obtained extremely rarely. If you use the puncture method in relation to the erased form, then it is already advisable to assert its value as a diagnostic method.

Additional diagnostic methods include blood tests and echography of the glands.

Treatment of mastitis

Treatment of the disease is determined based on the characteristics of its course, form and other factors on a strictly individual basis, and its measures are aimed primarily at reducing the growth of the number of bacteria while simultaneously influencing the inflammatory process in order to reduce it. In addition, of course, therapy involves the selection of appropriate measures aimed at pain relief.

For non-purulent forms of mastitis, conservative treatment methods are applicable. Antibiotics are used as the main drugs; the sensitivity of the bacteria is the basis for their selection. These antibiotics mainly belong to the penicillin group, cephalosporins, etc. They are applicable internally, intravenously or intramuscularly. Anesthetic drugs are used to relieve pain.

The patient should express milk at intervals of three hours and for both mammary glands, this is done to avoid stagnation of milk. Acceleration of the healing process is facilitated by a decrease in milk production or complete suppression of this process by prescribing appropriate medications by a doctor. After recovery, lactation can be resumed.

As for the treatment of purulent mastitis, it is carried out exclusively through surgical intervention. As an addition to treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures in the form of UHF and laser therapy, vitamin therapy, antianemic therapy and desensitizing therapy are used.

If you suspect mastitis, you should contact your treating gynecologist and mammologist.

Mastitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the mammary gland that occurs predominantly in women (but can also occur in children and men).

For the most part, mastitis occurs during breastfeeding, although the disease can develop in nulliparous, non-lactating women, and even in men.

Neonatal mastitis stands out separately.

Causes

Mastitis can be aseptic (non-purulent) and purulent.

The cause of the first is breast trauma, stagnation of milk in nursing women without infection of the breast tissue by microbes.

The purulent form occurs as a result of penetration of pathogenic flora - staphylococcus, streptococcus and other pathogenic agents - into the breast tissue and its ducts.

Microbes entering the mammary gland can occur:

• exogenously (from the outside) through nipple cracks, skin defects (primary mastitis),
• endogenously, this is the introduction of infection into the mammary gland with the flow of blood or lymph from other foci of infection (secondary mastitis).

The reasons for the overwhelming number of episodes in the postpartum period are violations of breastfeeding techniques, stagnation of milk (lactostasis), cracked nipples and decreased immunity, disruption of the normal hormonal balance.

For the most part, mastitis occurs during lactation if a woman has difficulty breastfeeding.

This is often due to the following factors:

• rare feeding schedules,
• improper attachment of the child, resulting in cracked nipples,
• incomplete emptying of the mammary glands,
• wearing tight underwear that compresses the ducts,
• violation of personal hygiene rules.

Milk in the ducts is a breeding ground for microbes entering the breast. Mastitis usually develops 3-4 days after the onset of lactostasis (milk stagnation), if it is not recognized and eliminated in time. But the size of the mammary gland, contrary to popular belief, does not in any way affect the development of the disease.

Symptoms of mastitis

It usually manifests itself as lumps in the chest, soreness and a feeling of fullness. Against the background of these phenomena, the temperature rises and general well-being may be disturbed. If lactostasis is not eliminated within 1-2 days, signs of aseptic (non-purulent) mastitis appear:

• pain in the gland,
• diffuse or focal redness,
• increase in gland temperature to 37-38 degrees,
• difficulty in milk flow.

As mastitis progresses and infection occurs:

• purulent foci palpable under the skin as areas of compaction with fluid movement in the center,
• sharp pain,
• discharge of greenish-yellow pus from the nipple,
• a sharp increase in body temperature to 39-40 degrees,
• symptoms of intoxication,
• increased temperature in the chest area.

Attention! When breastfeeding, the temperature in the armpits is not measured; it will always be too high; the true body temperature will be the temperature measured in the popliteal fossa or elbow.

Non-lactation mastitis (in men and women)

It usually appears after injuries or piercings, when an infection occurs on the gland tissue.

Signs of such mastitis:

• pain in the chest area,
• presence of pronounced redness,
• discharge of pus from the nipple,
• temperature increase,
• intoxication,
• inflammatory changes in the blood.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis and treatment of mastitis is carried out by mammologists, gynecologists and surgeons.

Mastitis occurs in stages and it is necessary to recognize it in the early stages. This allows for non-surgical treatment methods.

Basically, the diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical data, they are supplemented by a blood test with inflammatory changes and data from an ultrasound examination of the mammary gland.

In this case, infiltration (in this case, looking like compactions) or purulent foci (abscesses) is detected. To identify the microbe responsible for mastitis, milk (or purulent discharge) is cultured and sensitivity to antibiotics is determined.

Treatment of mastitis

If mastitis is recognized early, it can be treated without surgery.

Treatment of lactation mastitis

• to establish a full outflow of milk from the breast, be it sucking by the baby or expressing; if milk stagnates, treatment will be ineffective,
• it is necessary to expand the ducts before feeding (warm shower, a glass of warm liquid, warm compress), and after feeding - a cool compress,
• in case of cessation of feeding - a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide in a dilution of 1:5, topically on the affected gland in the form of a compress
• with the development of non-infectious mastitis, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and antipyretics are prescribed for preventive purposes as needed.

If pumping is impossible and there is a need to suppress lactation, drugs are used: cabergoline 0.25 mg 2 times a day for two days, bromocriptine 0.005 g 2 times a day for 4-8 days

Antimicrobial therapy while breastfeeding continues - semisynthetic penicillins, cephalosporins: cephalexin 500 mg 2 times a day, cefaclor 250 mg 3 times a day, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid 250 mg 3 times a day (in case of refusal to feed, you can use any antibiotics)

It would be completely wrong to prohibit breastfeeding, since the baby empties the ducts most effectively. Even if the milk is not sterile, the acidic environment of the child’s stomach will neutralize microbes.

A temporary ban on breastfeeding may be imposed only in case of purulent mastitis (abscess), and then only from the sore breast.

When the pus drains, powerful antibiotics are prescribed orally or by injection.

If an abscess has formed in the chest, this is a direct indication for surgical treatment. The doctor, under local or general anesthesia, makes a neat incision in the skin and underlying tissues, suctions the pus from the cavity and drains it with antiseptic treatment. In the postoperative period, the treatment principles described above are also relevant. Without normal milk flow, lactation mastitis will recur.

Mastitis is not a contraindication to breastfeeding, and certainly not a reason to take medications to suppress lactation! Taking antibiotics is not an indication for stopping breastfeeding; antibiotics are selected that are compatible with breastfeeding.

Therapy for non-infectious mastitis

This type of mastitis is treated according to general principles:

• antibiotic therapy in the initial stages,
• when purulent foci form, open them with drainage and rinse with antiseptics,
• wound treatment,
• the use of immunomodulators, vitamins,
• As the manifestations subside, physiotherapy is prescribed to resolve the inflammatory foci.

Prevention

Lactation mastitis

The basis for its prevention is proper breastfeeding.

It is based on the following principles:

• feeding on demand of the baby,
• adequate breast hygiene (the use of brilliant green is usually ineffective), a regular daily shower is quite enough,
• correct breast latch by the baby,
• selection of comfortable underwear,
• no additional pumping unnecessarily.
• seeking help and advice from lactation consultants immediately in the event of the formation of lactostasis, lumps in the breast, or if the slightest doubt arises.

Non-lactation mastitis

Following these procedures will minimize the risk of its occurrence:

• careful treatment of the breast area without injuries, punctures and blows to the chest area,
• maintaining personal hygiene,
• regular examinations of tissue in the gland area to identify compactions,
• taking hormonal drugs only as prescribed by a doctor.