The question of “what is mastitis?” confronts mothers and fathers, especially during the breastfeeding period. Fortunately, although it is uncomfortable as a breast duct problem, it is a solvable condition. Mastitis, which is related to breastfeeding, can occur at any stage of the process in which the baby sucks on the mother’s breast. So, what is mastitis and how is mastitis treated?
Information about Mastitis
One of the most feared conditions for breastfeeding mothers is mastitis infection. The questions of what is mastitis or how does mastitis go away are popular during this period. Many mothers are doing research on whether there is a mastitis drug or ways to prevent mastitis. We wanted to clarify the topic a little bit, starting with the question “what does mastitis mean?” Using academic articles, she answered the questions about mastitis
Mastitis is characterized by inflammation of the breast. In medical science, it is described as an infectious or non-infectious disease. Yes, it is defined as a disease in medical literature. But don’t worry, it is usually easy to treat. It is usually seen during the breastfeeding period, called puerperal. However, it can rarely be seen outside the breastfeeding period. Let’s look at the answers to questions such as what is mastitis, what are the symptoms of mastitis, how is mastitis treated and can mastitis be prevented one by one.
What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast, usually with infection, caused by obstruction of the milk ducts. If the breasts are not emptied when they are full, breast engorgement occurs. If the breastfeeding mother’s breast canal becomes clogged and is not treated, mastitis can occur. So, how do we recognize mastitis or how do we know when the breast canal is irritated? The symptoms of mastitis can be summarized as follows:
Symptoms of Mastitis / What are the Symptoms of Root Canal Obstruction?
The symptoms of mastitis can be confused with those caused by ordinary breast duct filling with milk. Mastitis may be suspected when pain that does not go away, pain in one breast and the following symptoms are present.
- Painful hardness in the breast
- A feeling of warmth in one area of the breast
- Redness and pain in the same region
- A general feeling of stiffness after breastfeeding
- Severe weakness in the mother
- Sometimes fire
Mastitis Measures
Types of mastitis are classified according to the cause of the disease. Sometimes mastitis is caused simply by excessive milk production and lack of milk supply, but sometimes it can be caused by diseases such as tuberculosis. The types of mastitis are as follows:
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Lactational Mastitis
Puerperal mastitis is a very common type of mastitis that occurs during breastfeeding and is most common during the first twelve weeks of breastfeeding. It is usually characterized by inadequate suckling or difficulty breastfeeding. Either there is an accumulation of milk, which is easily resolved by frequent breastfeeding, or there is an infection. If lactational mastitis is present, the first step is to ensure milk flow by providing proper breastfeeding support. Draining the milk is important in the treatment of mastitis. Mastitis usually resolves when the milk ducts are relieved by drainage of the milk. Antibiotherapy may be recommended in patients whose complaints are characterized by sepsis findings, who have a sore nipple, and who think of infectious mastitis as a result of mold.
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Subareolar (Central) Infection Mastitis
It is mastitis with inflammation. It is also known as Zuska’s disease. Sometimes the milk ducts are clogged by keratin production, and when the clogged ducts are stressed, pressure builds up and damage occurs. As a result, keratin irritation and inflammation develops. Causes include hormonal changes, vitamin A deficiency, heavy smoking. In fact, as emphasized in the academic article In solated Primary Breast Tuberculosis, smoking has been found in those who experience subareolar mastitis.
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Peripheral Non Lactational Infection
This type of mastitis is associated with diabetes. They are usually idiopathic and mammography is recommended in patients over thirty-five years of age. Prevalence proceeds like lactational mastitis for treatment. If an abscess has developed, a culture sample may be taken.
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Tuberculous Mastitis
Tuberculous mastitis is not very common, occurring between 0.1% and 0.5% of cases with tuberculosis, and is particularly common in less developed countries. It is also much higher in developed countries in relation to HIV positivity. It causes fever. It is usually treated with medication
How to Treat Mastitis?
First of all, you should consult a specialist doctor for the answer to the question of whether you have mastitis. If you have chest pain during breastfeeding and it does not go away despite breastfeeding, you can consult a doctor with this suspicion. If the doctor diagnoses mastitis, he or she will immediately give you a treatment plan. Usually mastitis goes away with some simple procedures to open the milk ducts. Sometimes antibiotherapy and abscess drainage may be necessary
Can Mastitis be prevented?
Mastitis can be very uncomfortable for the mother and of course for the baby, who needs to feed. But is it possible to prevent or avoid mastitis? Ways to prevent mastitis can be summarized as follows:Â
- Empty the problem breast by breastfeeding your baby frequently from both breasts every 2-3 hours (including at night) and express your milk when you are not breastfeeding , using tools such as an electric breast pump or a manual breast pump.
- Try to get more rest.
- Apply wet or dry heat to the problem area (e.g. a hot water bottle, hot compress or a shower).
- Massage the sore area from the chest wall to the nipple before and after breastfeeding
- Avoid wearing tight clothes.
To Avoid Mastitis!
We said that if a nursing mother’s breast canal becomes clogged, this can cause mastitis, but sometimes the picture can be much worse. If the following conditions are observed, be sure to contact your nearest health care provider!
- 8 If there is no improvement within 24 hours,
- If your temperature exceeds 38.4°C,
- If you see pus or blood in your milk,
- If red lines appear on your breast,
- If flu-like symptoms develop,
What are the causes of mastitis?
- Filling or blockage of the milk ducts as a result of sudden weaning or irregular breastfeeding
- Tight clothing or underwear that puts pressure on the breast are also factors for breast mastitis.
- Inability of the baby to hold the breast adequately and correctly
- Inability to breastfeed due to sores and cracks in the nipples
Breastfeeding if mastitis is presentâ
Having mastitis in the breast does not prevent you from breastfeeding your baby. Even if you have mastitis, it is important to continue breastfeeding to reduce the chance of developing an abscess in the breast. Breastfeeding during this period will not harm your baby as your milk contains antibodies that protect the baby from infection. If there is mastitis in the breast, the ducts relax when the baby sucks. It is also recommended to drain the milk with a breast pump
Mastitis usually occurs in one breast. It is recommended to breastfeed from the breast with mastitis first. As your milk may taste a little salty, it may be helpful to try different breastfeeding positions to encourage the baby to take the breast. You may also want to milk your chest after your baby sucks, which will help to empty your milk ducts more efficiently. If the baby still does not want to take the breast, you can express your milk, as many mothers do. This way you can keep milk production going until the salinity in the milk disappears, usually within a week.
Sources;
This content is based on Haseki Medical Bulletin 2014; 52: 150