Non-lactational mastitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the mammary gland. It occurs outside the period of breastfeeding. Among the main reasons, doctors note hormonal disorders that occur during menopause or menopause. In adolescent girls, breast tissue under the influence of estrogen increases. But the rapid formation of the body affects the work of immunity. A decrease in protective functions is another cause of mastitis. Timely treatment of this disease minimizes the likelihood of complications. To do this, you need to know the signs of mastitis in non-breastfeeding women. Symptoms of the pathological process, the main causes, as well as treatment methods will be discussed in this article.
Why does mastitis occur?
The main reason for the development of the disease are hormonal disorders. Non-lactational mastitis manifests itself in women during menopause, when estrogen levels fall, and in girls of puberty age. Symptoms of this disease are not excluded even in young children.
Certain factors can also provoke mastitis in non-breastfeeding women:
- mechanical damage and trauma to the glandular tissue, if an infection gets into the wound;
- weakened immunity against the background of certain diseases (diabetes mellitus, vitamin deficiency);
- breast surgery.
In infants, mastitis is usually diagnosed in the first weeks of life. The mammary glands swell, a secret that cannot be squeezed out accumulates in them. The main cause of non-lactational mastitis in young children is hormonal failure. The disease does not require treatment and independently disappears after about a month.
Signs of non-lactational mastitis
The development of the pathological process begins with inflammation of the mammary glands. Initially, symptoms of mastitis in non-breastfeeding women are mild. Then the secretion of the mammary glands is enhanced, there is a slight discomfort and swelling. At the site of localization of inflammation, the skin sometimes darkens and retracts. Such symptoms make a woman see a doctor. At this stage, the disease responds well to therapy.
Breast mastitis in non-breastfeeding women has several developmental options. Therefore, it is advisable to consider the clinical picture of the disease in relation to each form of the disease.
Acute and chronic mastitis
Given the severity of the pathological process and its duration, two forms of this disease can be distinguished.
In acute non-lactating mastitis, a woman is concerned about slight discomfort in the mammary gland, which may be accompanied by redness of the skin in this area. As the disease progresses, discomfort in the axillary region is noted, which is associated with the involvement of regional lymph nodes in the pathological process. Sometimes the temperature rises, chills appear. All these symptoms fully characterize acute mastitis in non-nursing. Signs of mastitis indicate serious changes in the woman’s body, so self-medication is not worth it. Seek immediate medical attention.
Chronic non-lactational mastitis outside the period of exacerbation rarely worries. However, a dense infiltrate may form in the area of inflammation. Some patients report the appearance of chest pains of varying intensity, which are given to the arm or shoulder. Such symptoms are aggravated before the start of the cycle. With an exacerbation of the pathological process, fistulous passages with purulent contents open. Outwardly, the disease resembles cancer in all its symptoms. Therefore, do not hesitate and postpone the visit to the doctor. The lack of competent therapy can complicate mastitis in non-breastfeeding women. Antibiotic treatment minimizes the risk of adverse effects.
Other forms of the disease
Non-lactational mastitis very rarely goes into more complex purulent stages and is very amenable to therapy. If this is a physiological condition, treatment is not required at all. Symptoms of this disease are largely determined by its form.
- Serous mastitis in non-breastfeeding women is usually a borderline condition. Symptoms are often absent and more reminiscent of mastopathy. Some women report moderate swelling and swelling of the chest, a slight increase in temperature.
- Infiltrative non-lactational mastitis is characterized by a more pronounced clinical picture. Patients complain of an increase in temperature and severity in the mammary gland. The chest may be hot to the touch.
- Purulent mastitis in non-breastfeeding women is characterized by pronounced symptoms: chest pain, swelling, high fever. The patient's condition worsens sharply. This is due to the release of toxins into the blood from a purulent focus of inflammation. The disease in this form resembles a pathological condition that develops during lactation.
Depending on the form of the disease, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment. However, to determine it, you must undergo a medical examination.
Diagnostic measures
Confirmation of the disease usually does not cause difficulties. The diagnosis of "non-lactational mastitis" in non-breastfeeding women is determined on the basis of complaints and the clinical picture. The doctor may also prescribe an ultrasound and biopsy of the affected area. In especially serious cases, a microbiological examination of the secretion from ulcers is required. In addition, a full examination of the patient is carried out in order to determine the underlying disease that caused the hormonal failure.
The basic principles of therapy
The treatment of the disease depends on its form, stage and the presence of concomitant ailments. As mentioned above, mastitis in non-breastfeeding women is sometimes a physiological norm. In this case, specific therapy is not required, limited to dynamic monitoring of the state of health. A serious disease is treated with antibiotics and antihistamines. All drugs are selected individually.
Depending on what caused mastitis in non-breastfeeding women, several specialists can prescribe treatment at the same time. If the disease arose against a background of hormonal disruptions, the endocrinologist selects the therapy. When mastitis is the result of an infectious process in the chest or trauma, consultation with a surgeon is required.
Treatment with folk remedies
Along with conservative therapy, doctors recommend using traditional medicine. At the initial stage of the disease, you can include washing procedures with a special infusion of the affected breast. To prepare it, you need two tablespoons of a dry mixture of chamomile and yarrow flowers (1: 4) pour 0.5 l of boiling water. This infusion has a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory effect.
To relieve puffiness, you can prepare a honey cake. To do this, mix a tablespoon of honey with two tablespoons of flour and knead the dough. The cake should be applied to the affected area, and cover with gauze on top. Such a compress should be kept for at least 10 hours.
Mastitis in non-breastfeeding women, the symptoms of which are described in this article, requires qualified treatment. Do not use warming compresses. High temperatures can provoke suppuration. The use of alternative recipes is permissible only after consulting a doctor.
Preventative measures
There is no specific prophylaxis for this disease. It is enough to monitor the state of immunity, timely treat infectious pathologies. These are the two most common reasons that cause mastitis in non-breastfeeding. The signs of mastitis should not be ignored, you should immediately consult a doctor. Be healthy!