Mastitis is a condition of the breast which causes inflammation and swelling of the breast tissue. It commonly occurs in women who are nursing but, in some cases, it occurs in women not currently lactating as well.
Mastitis is a condition of the breast which causes inflammation and swelling of the breast tissue. It commonly occurs in women who are nursing but, in some cases, it occurs in women not currently lactating as well.
Mastitis is usually categorised into two types based on the underlying cause of the mastitis. If there is no infection accompanying the inflammation, it is called milk stasis.
Milk stasis is a condition where there is a build-up of milk in lactating women. If left untreated, it can result in an infection as the blocked milk provides an ideal environment for bacterial growth. Most commonly, it is an infection which causes mastitis or inflammation of the breast. If mastitis occurs in women who are not lactating, it is referred to as periductal mastitis.
Bacterial infection is the most common cause of mastitis in both lactating and non-lactating women. The bacteria can enter the breast via a tear/crack in the nipple or milk ducts. In case of mastitis caused by a blocked milk duct, leaving it untreated also results in infection. A blocked milk duct is usually caused due to improper feeding technique or wearing tight constrictive clothing.
A few risk factors have been laid out to identify women more prone to developing mastitis:
You might have mastitis if you see any of the following symptoms:
If you are nursing, your doctor would conduct a physical exam to check for tenderness and inflammation. Your doctor would look for a painful wedge-shape area in the breast which is considered a clear indicator of mastitis.
In case you are not breastfeeding, your doctor might recommend additional diagnostic tests such as breast ultrasound, MRI, mammogram or biopsy to identify the cause of the mastitis.
The following tips can help lower the risk of developing mastitis
Continuing breastfeeding is recommended if you are suffering from mastitis. If you are unable to do so, then it is important to properly drain your breast by pumping if necessary.
Antibiotics would be prescribed to you if you have an infection causing the mastitis. Your doctor would prescribe antibiotics that shouldn’t have any impact on breastfeeding.
Mastitis should go away in 24-72 hours with basic home remedies. In case, the condition seems to be worsening you should seek medical attention. Mastitis if left untreated can result in a life-threatening abscess.
Mastitis can be caused by the infection of the breast. This can occur in both lactating and non-lactating women. Possibly due to an underlying infection
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