Every modern woman recognizes the importance of maintaining her health and well-being. It is necessary to play sports, eat right, observe the wakefulness and rest regimen, follow the recommendations of mammary care specialists to maintain their health. One of the most common breast diseases is mastitis.
Mastitis: definition
In common parlance, “breastfeeding” is a purulent inflammation of the mammary glands, which occurs in both women and men, associated with impaired patency of the ducts. Doctors still do not know exactly why some women develop this pathological process, while others do not. If there are cracks and sores on the nipples, the risk of getting sick increases, but many patients with such breast injuries have never suffered from mastitis.
In the development of the disease, an important role is played by microorganisms (staphylococci), which enter through the damaged nipple into the mammary gland. The most dangerous complication in this case is sepsis (blood poisoning).
Causes of occurrence
The main reason for the development of pathology is bacteria that penetrate the body through cracks or wounds on the nipples. Microorganisms also enter the bloodstream in chronic inflammatory diseases: tonsillitis, pyelonephritis, etc. Immunity that provides good protection will not allow pathogenic agents to penetrate the body or destroy them immediately, but a weak immune system is not able to fight, therefore, it passes the infection. Sometimes the disease develops as a secondary infection after infection of the genitals in the postpartum period.
Types of mastitis
Lactation mastitis of the mammary glands associated with breastfeeding occurs most often due to improper expressing of milk or improper application of the baby. These errors provoke stagnant processes and chest injuries, creating favorable conditions for the penetration and reproduction of microbes. Lactation mastitis according to ICD 10: N 61.
The fibrocystic form can occur in women at any age, it is in no way associated with breastfeeding. Abrupt hormonal changes, diabetes mellitus, changes in climatic conditions, and injuries of the mammary gland, due to which necrosis of adipose tissue develops, can trigger the development of pathology.
There is also male mastitis, developing against a background of hormonal imbalance.
Symptoms of mastitis (lactational) and the stage of its development:
- Early stage (serous mastitis). Pain on palpation is felt, body temperature rises, mammary glands increase in volume.
- Infiltrative mastitis develops due to improper treatment of the serous form or due to the complete lack of treatment. This stage is accompanied by fever and compaction on one chest.
If treatment measures are not taken on time, purulent mastitis occurs.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of the pathological process, the same for any type of disease:
- a sharp increase in body temperature up to 39 ° C;
- weakness, lethargy;
- headache;
- chills and fever;
- pain on palpation of the chest;
- the mammary gland is hot to the touch.
Symptoms of mastitis (purulent):
- high body temperature, often above 39 ° C;
- decreased appetite;
- insomnia, headaches;
- a light touch to the chest causes unbearable discomfort;
- enlarged lymph nodes in the axillary region.
It is extremely important to be able to distinguish any form of the disease from lactostasis (stagnation of milk in the ducts of the mammary gland). Treatment of mastitis usually requires the use of antibiotics, while stagnation can go away on their own. Symptoms of these pathologies are very similar, often even a doctor finds it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis without additional examination. The skin of the affected area in both cases is red, with mastitis, a discoloration is slightly more pronounced. Compaction in the chest is observed during the first and second diseases.
Mastitis in a non-breastfeeding woman
The cause of the disease is pathogens. They live in the body of every person, but under favorable conditions begin to multiply, provoking an inflammatory process. The main causes of breast mastitis in a non-breastfeeding woman are:
- fibrocystic mastopathy;
- hormonal changes;
- transferred plastic surgery;
- acute infectious processes;
- penetration of bacteria through a nipple puncture (with piercing);
- penetration of infection through the boil near the nipple.
Diagnosis of the disease and treatment methods are no different from ways to solve the problem for a nursing woman.
Mastitis is always confirmed by ultrasound examination. If during the diagnosis an abscess is detected, a course of antibiotics will be required. With an abscess size of more than 3 cm, surgery is prescribed.
Mastitis in a nursing woman
Most at risk are primiparous women in whom the disease can make itself felt in the first weeks of lactation or during weaning. The inability of the nipples to feed leads to micro-injuries through which the infection penetrates.
The postpartum period for each woman is a weakened immunity and a change in hormonal levels, which can cause the development of mastitis. Non-compliance with hygiene rules, hypothermia, difficulties with the outflow of milk, tumors in the mammary gland can provoke an ailment.
When confirming the pathology, it is not worth stopping the feeding of healthy breasts during the first days. Only after an ultrasound study and a diagnosis of purulent mastitis in a nursing woman, the child is weaned. You can resume the process only after recovery, which will be shown by tests for the presence of infection in milk.
What to do is prohibited:
- reduce fluid intake to stop lactation;
- take medications for the same purpose;
- warm, rub the site of inflammation;
- take a hot shower;
- resort to alternative methods of treatment and choose drugs on their own.
Any effects on the chest will only aggravate the problem and lead to the growth of edema. With pathology, the chest should not be rubbed with a hard washcloth, wrinkled and squeezed.
Mastitis treatment
How to treat mastitis and the examination scheme itself is prescribed by a gynecologist. Among the first measures, a general blood test and sowing milk for sterility are carried out. With obvious signs of mastitis, therapy can begin without test results, but the conclusion of laboratory experts, of course, is taken into account. The temporary cessation of breastfeeding is discussed with the obstetrician-gynecologist and pediatrician in order to choose the best option for artificial feeding for the child.
Mastitis is an infectious disease, so treatment involves taking antibiotics. These are the drugs that easily penetrate the mammary glands and effectively affect the causative agent of the disease. The duration of the course, depending on the severity of the course of the disease, is 5-10 days. It is forbidden to express milk to stop lactation. Reducing lactation is an important part of treatment, however, similar measures are carried out with the use of special drugs, ointments for mastitis and only under the supervision of a doctor. During treatment, it is precisely the stagnation of milk that is eliminated, but it is important to maintain lactation in order to resume breastfeeding.
Treatment of purulent mastitis
Purulent mastitis is treated in the surgical department. This problem is often resolved surgically to avoid serious complications. With a decrease in the symptoms of the disease and their severity, repeated blood and milk tests for sterility are performed. In the absence of the pathogen, it is allowed to return to breastfeeding the baby.
If the temperature does not drop within two days, the tests do not return to normal, the size of the inflamed area does not decrease and remains very painful, surgery is indicated.
For urgent consultation of a doctor with mastitis, there are special services to help nursing mothers.
Drugs for treatment
Before treating mastitis, it is necessary to determine which antibiotics the causative agent of the disease is most sensitive to. Of great importance is the drip of saline and glucose, due to which the body is cleansed, reduced intoxication, and improved metabolic processes. Prescribed drugs for mastitis, increasing the immunity of a sick woman.
In addition to droppers and surgical intervention, antibiotic therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physiotherapy are prescribed. Doctors seek help:
- Oxacillin;
- Lincomycin;
- Ciprofloxacin;
- Cefazolin.
To suppress lactation, they use: Parlodel, Bromkriptin, Bromergon. Such measures are necessary to prevent stagnant processes. Many women listen to the advice of elders, so they resort to the help of traditional medicine: they apply fresh cabbage leaves, kombucha, use ointment for mastitis and much more.
Some consequences are irreversible, therefore self-medication with such serious diseases is unacceptable. It is important to realize that mastitis in women can seriously harm.
Preventive actions
Prevention of mastitis does not require special rules. All this woman knows herself, but for some reason ignores. The main recommendations for lactating and non-lactating ones are to observe elementary rules of personal hygiene, not to overcool the mammary glands, during sexual intercourse not to allow rough treatment in relation to the chest, to wear comfortable, not constraining underwear.
Pregnant women should prepare the nipples for feeding before the birth of the baby:
- Avoid getting soap on the chest - it will dry the skin;
- periodically wipe the halos with a damp towel;
- do not use cosmetics for breasts in late pregnancy;
- compresses from a decoction of oak bark or black tea for halos will strengthen them and prevent the appearance of cracks.
Before feeding, it is necessary to wipe the breast with a warm cloth, this helps to improve the outflow of milk. A hot shower is a good prevention of mastitis. Stagnation of milk is often formed due to improper attachment of the baby to the chest: it must capture not only the nipple, but also completely halo. It is necessary to feed the child on demand, and not according to the regimen. It is impossible to excommunicate without medical indications.
It helps to prevent mastitis massage towards the nipple during feeding, which improves milk production and reduces the risk of cork in the duct. It is important to give each breast a different breast, freeing each milk.
Chronic mastitis
The protracted form of the disease is significantly different from the acute stage, only the etiology of the disease has similarities. There are two types of chronic mastitis: purulent and squamous. The first develops as a result of incorrect treatment of acute manifestations of pathology. Favorable conditions for the development of a chronic form are weakened immunity, microflora resistant to antibiotics, and a purulent process in the mammary gland.
Symptoms of chronic mastitis are not so obvious, the temperature can stay at a level no higher than 37 ° C, the skin over the focus of inflammation tightens, discharge from the nipple appears.
Squamous mastitis
This form of the disease is characterized by the absence of ulcers. Pathology develops, as a rule, during the onset of menopause, when a serious hormonal restructuring occurs in the woman’s body. Symptoms are the same as with any inflammation: fever, redness of the skin, prolonged infiltration, an increase in axillary lymph nodes.
The study of inflammatory infiltrate is carried out urgently. Most often, with squamous mastitis, surgical intervention is required. In any case, the doctor knows how to treat mastitis, it is only important to seek medical help on time.
Always be healthy
A healthy lifestyle - walks in the fresh air, a balanced diet, good sleep, taking vitamin complexes recommended for nursing mothers - these are measures to strengthen immunity. Hygienic procedures must be carried out in the morning and in the evening, but without the use of aggressive cosmetics that dry the skin.
Mastitis is a dangerous disease that threatens the life and health of a woman. At the same time, the child suffers from the fact that he is deprived of the opportunity to receive the necessary vitamins and minerals with breast milk. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of yourself and your health.