Inflammation and cracks in the nipple are pathological conditions caused by infection of the area. The cause may be an invasion of the virus, pathological bacteria or fungus. First of all, surface tissues are affected, which makes the condition extremely unpleasant, uncomfortable in everyday life - damaged areas come in contact with clothing textiles, and this provokes severe pain. Most often, the problem persecutes lactating women, negatively affects the possibility of feeding a child with a natural product. Mechanical exposure causes very severe pain, so a woman simply can’t tolerate touching her breast, and the baby does not receive normal healthy nutrition, and in some cases the only way out is to switch to artificial feeding.
general information
Formally, inflammation of the breast nipple is called telitis. The most pronounced manifestations of the pathology are catarrhal, the area swells, turns red. If the condition is serious, the processes are started, the patient does not receive adequate help, pathology progress is possible, accompanied by the release of pus and the spread of infection to nearby tissues. As a rule, this is accompanied by a general deterioration in well-being. Although the nipple is quite small, this can cause serious problems, and the therapeutic course will drag on for a long time.
Although most often the calf is found in the fair sex, inflammation of the nipple in a man (boy) is possible. For the stronger sex, the risks are lower, since there is no period of life similar to breastfeeding for mothers. Quite rarely, the nipple suffers from friction, since loose clothing and spacious T-shirts are common in men. Men do not use bras that can provoke irritation-prone skin for inflammation.
Status Nuances
In a woman, a girl, nipple inflammation is extremely rarely diagnosed by itself. The predominant percentage of cases is a combined disease, in which simultaneously with the nipples, areoles, gland tissues become inflamed, which are respectively called areolitis, mastitis. The main percentage of patients are mothers who are breastfeeding. Quite rarely, adult men, infants of any gender, women who do not feed children are found among the sick.
Features of nipple inflammation in women and men are associated with the specifics of this part of the body: it is not sterile, and inflammatory processes are always associated with the introduction of an infectious agent. This is usually secondary. Inflammatory processes often complicate the course of major diseases - hormonal, immune, and also associated with the functioning of the glands.
On average, inflammation of the nipples in women and men with an equal degree of frequency develops from one half of the body or symmetrical. The relevance of the issue is due to the similarity of the symptoms of telitis and the cancer process, named after Paget, in which the nipple tissue is malignant. When identifying a pathological process, you should immediately consult a specialist in order to clarify the nature of the phenomenon, to exclude the oncological aspect of the disease.
Where did the trouble come from?
Inflammation of the nipple of the breast and breast is caused by pathological microscopic life forms that have penetrated into organic tissues. Pathogenic microflora can penetrate here in many ways. Often the reason is a violation of the integrity of the skin, but there is a chance of bringing bacteria, viruses, fungi with a blood stream if the body has a focus of chronic infection. There are many cases when patients carefully observed hygienic measures and carefully selected clothes, avoided injuries, nevertheless they became a victim of the evaporation process. As a rule, this is due precisely to the hematogenous route of infection.
Choosing how to treat inflammation of the nipple, you must first find out the features of microflora. Usually the infection is nonspecific, it can provoke various forms of inflammation, it affects different parts of the body. Quite often, tests show staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, and bacteroids. There is a risk of invasion of Proteus, Escherichia coli. There are other forms of microorganisms, but they are less common.
Features and provocateurs
Sometimes inflammation of the nipple in a boy, girl, adult is associated with infection with herpetic viruses, candidiasis, actinomycetes. There is a risk of invasion of tuberculous mycobacteria, also known as Koch's bacillus. An impressive percentage of cases is due to mixed infection: analyzes of tissues of the focus of inflammation show the presence of several pathological forms of life at once.
Doctors, along with direct ones, formulated factors that stimulate the body, increase the danger of its development, and, as the inflammatory process starts, aggravate the course. So, inflammation of the nipple during feeding is a classic picture with lactostasis, a condition where milk stagnates in the ducts of the gland of a nursing mother.
The danger of the pathological process against the background of injury, cracks in the nipples is higher, since the integrity of the protective cover is violated. High danger with eczema localized on the nipples. This condition is the cause of an infectious allergic process, it is considered a subform of dermatitis. Pathologies of ducts for milk, oncological processes, injuries, hormonal imbalance and metabolism, and a decrease in immune status can play a role. The appearance of a focus of inflammation is possible against the background of the use of anabolic agents designed to increase muscle mass.
Factors and reasons
Inflammation of the nipple during breastfeeding with lactostasis is explained by the formation of comfortable conditions for the reproduction of pathological microflora. Milk, stagnating in the ducts, turns into a breeding ground for the development of bacteria, viruses, fungi, which initiates inflammation. Contact through the ducts, the microflora enters the nipple tissue. Telite, accompanying lactostasis, more often worries owners of inverted flat nipples. With such a breast, there is a high probability of difficulties with feeding, it is impossible to completely empty the gland, which exacerbates the situation.
Inflammation of the nipple in a one-year-old girl, little boy, adult man or woman can develop against the background of cracks, since such changes in the integrity of the integument are always observed against the background of infectious invasion, and therefore, the inflammatory process. Most often, microscopic lesions are detected in women who have recently given birth, in people with prone to dry skin integuments. The second factor can be explained by dehydration, other pathological conditions. Sometimes the pathology is associated with eczema, causing a sensation of itching, which stimulates the person to comb the area. This is accompanied by damage to the integument, which allows the infection to penetrate deeper.
Pathological condition: features and accompanying phenomena
Inflammation of the nipple of the breast can appear against the background of the generation of secretions by the gland containing mucus, pus, and blood. Such a product is a comfortable environment for microflora. Pathological microorganisms multiply, grow rapidly, the focus of inflammation is activated and increases. From medical statistics it is known: telite is most often observed simultaneously with galactophoritis. In some cases, the inflammatory process allows you to identify the papilloma inside the duct, that is, a benign neoplasm. Sometimes the reason is too large a lumen of the ducts of the gland.
Inflammation of the nipple of the breast may indicate an injury, a hematoma, which becomes the focus of suppuration. From here, the infection spreads further to nearby tissues. A negative factor may be an insect bite, attrition, damage due to seams on clothing, scratching, use of synthetic clothing. More often, both inflammatory and oncological processes of the nipple are observed in women. In oncology, telitis is observed very often, since the neoplasm provokes the secretion by glands of specific secrets, with which the infection penetrates the nipple.
Pathologies and their consequences
Inflammation of the nipple is highly likely to appear against the background of diabetes. Telitis is familiar to many people with thyroid problems. Among other pathological conditions, obesity, accompanied by a set of excess mass, very often becomes the background for the inflammatory process.
If the body has a focus of infection, inflammation, even if it seems insignificant, this can cause telitis, since the pathogen can spread with the flow of blood, lymph. For example, infection is possible with caries, chronic runny nose or tonsillitis, tonsil inflammation. Telitis can be observed with pyoderma.
The lower the immune status, the more likely it will be disturbed by inflammation of the nipple during breastfeeding and outside this period, at any age, of a person of any gender. The weaker the immunity, the faster the infectious agent can spread from the area of introduction throughout the body. Diseases of the immune system are congenital, obtained with age, but all of them are accompanied by an increased danger of the body. The weakening of the immune status is possible due to the prolonged influence of stress factors, hypothermia, chronic and acute illness.
In men, calf is more often diagnosed with gynecomastia. The term refers to the condition when the gland develops in a similar way to the inherent female breast. The reason is a failure of the hormonal background.
Pathology: features of progress
In an effort to learn more about calf, it is wise to turn to specialized medical publications that publish various materials about inflammation of the nipples, photos of drugs used for treatment, tools necessary for diagnosis, as well as a description of the procedures that the patient needs. When contacting the patient, it is reasonable to understand how the infection occurred. There are two ways: through violation of the integrity of the epithelium and with blood flow, lymph. Microscopic pathological forms of life penetrate between cells, invade blood vessels, infect the gland, gradually cover the nipple. The body responds with standard inflammation of a general or local type of localization. The local response is expressed by a change in the nature of the blood flow. The general reaction is observed as the pathology progresses, if the pathogen spreads through the circulatory system. Symptoms will be determined by the virulence of the microflora, the toxins generated by it, and the immune status.
With inflammation of the nipple, the clinical picture varies from case to case. Usually, the affected area increases, hardens, hurts, changes color, swells. Perhaps the appearance of secretions and a general deterioration in well-being. Changes in structure and size are associated with lymphocyte infiltration.
A typical sign is pain. The syndrome can be localized in the nipple, areola, spread around. Sensations are burning, tolerant, average. In some cases, they occur immediately, as the inflammatory focus has formed, sometimes they come later, in some they appear only with pressure on the area. During lactation, they become especially strong when the baby eats.
Symptoms: continuing the topic
Inflammation of the nipple is usually accompanied by flushing of the area. The discharge observed here can be serous, with inclusions of blood, pus. Hue varies, some have red, others have yellowish. It is possible to separate the liquid of different volumes, sometimes smears are observed. In some, they are noticeable constantly, in others - from time to time, in someone they are observed if the nipple is squeezed.
Edema with inflammation of the nipple is considered a reactive sign. With herpetic infection, vesicles filled with liquid form, the area is very itchy.
The toxins that accompany the poisoning process provoke fever, nausea and vomiting, weakness, poor performance. The patient quickly gets tired, eats poorly, and intellectual abilities decrease. When Montgomery tubercles are infected, the sebaceous glands change, separate areas swell, and respond with pain.
Status Update
When contacting a doctor, a patient is examined, complaints and a medical history are collected, tests and instrumental examinations are prescribed. Swelling of the area, the presence of secretions (their traces), pain during palpation and swelling of the surrounding tissues are assessed. The doctor will check the size of the lymph nodes under the collarbone, on the neck - usually they are enlarged.
A comprehensive examination is carried out as part of a mammogram in order to establish the causes of inflammation. An important stage is differential diagnosis (in particular, with oncological diseases). Assign ultrasound, CT, MRI, ductography to assess the condition of the ducts. X-rays are taken using a contrast agent. So you can accurately determine the papilloma. Tissue samples are taken for biopsy for laboratory testing.
It is necessary to take blood from a patient for a general analysis, ESR, and white blood cell concentration assessment. Certain compounds in the samples will indicate an inflammation site. You should also determine the characteristics of the hormonal background. Check the patient’s fluid for oncological markers and make a bacterioscopic analysis. This allows you to clarify the pathogen, to identify sensitivity to a variety of medicines. To clarify the fact of the presence of degenerated cells, a cytological study is shown.
Negative consequences
Telitis can cause mastitis, phlegmon, gangrene. Against the background of the inflammatory process, the risk of tissue malignancy increases. Perhaps a severe deformation of the diseased area, the formation of scars, in especially advanced cases affecting the entire gland.
If the disease is associated with fungal invasion, and the patient is a nursing mother, there is a danger of oral candidiasis in the baby.
What to do?
The treatment of inflammation of the nipples is practiced conservatively. Prescribe drugs for general or local use. The second option is relevant if the form has no complications. The patient site is treated with antibacterial drugs, drugs from viruses, fungi - depends on the nature of the pathological invasion.
To facilitate the manifestations of the inflammatory process, you can apply cold compresses to the affected nipple. This is especially effective for distressing pain.
With severe symptoms, general therapy is indicated. Prescribe drugs against germs, inflammation, bacteria, fungi, viruses - it depends on the characteristics of the infection. As a rule, tablets are prescribed. If the disease is actively progressing, is severely leaking, drug injections may be recommended.
When a foci of suppuration occurs during lactation, breast-feeding is temporarily abandoned by regularly expressing milk produced. Perhaps the appointment of the operation. The area of suppuration is opened, the discharge is removed. Further, the course is continued with conservative measures.
How to warn?
The main preventive measure is the correct care of the nipples, the observance of hygienic measures and the timely treatment of any infectious, chronic inflammatory processes. It is necessary to prevent the formation of cracks in the nipples. It is wise for young mothers to learn how to properly feed the baby.
Even in the absence of complaints, women are advised to regularly visit a mammologist for a full examination. When identifying diseases that can provoke a telite, you need to immediately begin a course of treatment, guided by the advice of a doctor.
Risks can be minimized if you use clothing made from natural fabrics that are well-sewn and that do not have rough seams.
It must be remembered that inflammation of the nipple is an unpleasant disease, but far from fatal, and serious complications are recorded only in extremely neglected situations.
Inflammatory processes: Montgomery glands
The term refers to visually visible small pimples on the surface of the nipple areas. So far, doctors do not know exactly all the features of the functionality of the glands, but it has been established that it is normal from about a dozen. Inflammatory processes in this area can form due to blockage of the gaps - epithelial cells can accumulate here. In some cases, the initial cause is an infectious agent; in others, a hormonal failure. Most often, such inflammation is detected at the stage of bearing a child, although there are certain risks at any time in life.
It is not difficult to notice inflammation: the area responds with discomfort, gradually the pain becomes stronger, especially pronounced when touching the inflamed area.On the periphery, the nipples are reddened, sometimes the tubercles become a source of discharge. The listed symptoms are an occasion to consult a specialist. It is unlikely that it will be possible to cure the disease on its own, the likelihood of complications is high.
Status Features
If the Montgomery tubercles become larger during pregnancy, but there are no symptoms of inflammation, there is nothing to worry about - treatment is not required. After birth, in most women, the glands again become almost invisible. For some, this occurs shortly after cessation of feeding.
If inflammation has occurred, it is important to properly care for your breasts. You will have to strictly observe hygiene rules, use only linen made from natural material, not compressing the chest, but supporting. Similarly, inflammation can be prevented. The doctor will prescribe local remedies, antiseptic compounds, soothing irritated areas and relieving pain. Physiotherapy may be prescribed.
In isolated cases, the removal of the inflamed area is indicated. This is possible with a difficult process, when the results of analyzes indicate the need for the procedure.