In more severe cases of infectious mastitis, an abscess can develop in the breast. An abscess is a pus-filled hollow space that can appear on the skin or inside the body.
The abscess can be treated by draining the pus out of the breast.
For more information on breast abscesses see the ‘related articles’ section
The list below is a combination of the generic and brand names of medicines available in the UK. Each name provides a link to a separate website (Medicine Guides) where you can find detailed information about the medicine. The information is provided as part of an on-going medicine information project between NHS Direct, Datapharm Communications Ltd and other organisations.
The medicines listed below hold a UK licence to allow their use in the treatment of this condition. Unlicensed medicines are not included.
The list is continually reviewed and updated but it may not be complete as the project is still in progress and guides for new medicines may still be in development.
If you are taking one of these medicines for a different condition, or your medicine for this condition is not mentioned here at all, speak to your prescriber, GP or pharmacist, or contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
* Paracetamol
* Ibuprofen
Self-care techniques for non-infectious mastitis
Most cases of non-infectious mastitis can be treated with a number of self-care techniques. These are outlined below.
* Make sure that you get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
* The over-the-counter painkiller paracetamol can help reduce symptoms of fever and pain; though a small amount of paracetamol can enter the breast milk it is too low a dose to harm your baby. (Aspirin is not safe to take while breastfeeding).
* Try feeding your baby more often, or express between feeds if your breasts still feel full.
* Feed from the affected breast first in order to drain it as much as possible.
* Gently express after finishing a feed, so your breasts can be fully drained.
* Make sure that your baby is properly positioned and attached to your breasts - your midwife or health visitor should be able to advise you.
* You may want to experiment with feeding your baby in different positions to see if this makes feeding more effective and efficient.
* Warming your breast with some warm water can help soften the breast making it easier for your baby to feed.
* Stroking a wide tooth comb over the red area towards the nipple can help the milk flow.
* Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing or a bra until your symptoms improve.
If symptoms still do not improve, or worsen, despite trying these techniques then you should return to your GP for additional advice or treatment.
Infectious mastitis
Infectious mastitis will need to be treated using a combination of the techniques outline above and antibiotic tablets (oral antibiotics).
Antibiotics can enter the breast milk and make your baby irritable and restless. They may also begin producing runny stools. These effects are only temporary, will resolve once you finish your dose, and will pose no risk to your baby.
Obviously, if you are not breastfeeding then you will only need to take the antibiotics
Your GP should be able to make a confident diagnosis of mastitis based on a physical examination and by asking you about your symptoms.
If your symptoms are particularly severe, or do not respond to treatment, your GP may take a small sample of your breast milk for further testing. These tests can often identify whether a bacterial infection has taken place, and identify the particular bacteria, which can help aid treatment.
As mastitis is usually due to problems with breastfeeding, your GP and/or your midwife may ask you to demonstrate your breastfeeding technique.
You should not feel that this means you are being tested or blamed. Breastfeeding is like anything else - it can take time, practice and sometimes advice to get it right.
Occasionally, infectious mastitis can develop in women who are not breastfeeding. Smokers in their late 20s or early 30s are most commonly affected.
It is thought that there is something in tobacco smoke that can damage the milk ducts and make them vulnerable to infection.
Mastitis can also develop after nipple piercing. You should be able to prevent this by only using professional piercing studios that are registered with your local authority
Fresh human milk does not normally provide a good environment for bacteria to breed in. But if the milk ducts become blocked, the milk can then stagnate and an infection can occur.
Exactly how the bacteria enter the breast tissue has not been conclusively proven. Some suggestions are:
* bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the skin of your breast enters through a small crack or break in the skin of the breast, or
* bacteria that is present in the baby’s mouth and throat can be transferred during breastfeeding.
It is thought that most cases of non-infectious mastitis are caused by milk stasis; milk stasis occurs when the milk is not properly removed from your breast.
Milk stasis can be caused by:
* your baby not being properly attached to your breast during feeding,
* your baby having problems suckling the milk out of your breast, or
* your baby having infrequent feeds.
Milk stasis can lead to the milk ducts in your breasts becoming blocked, as the breast milk is not being properly and regularly expressed.
Blocked milk ducts can also occur as a result of pressure on the breast, such as tight-fitting clothing or an over-restrictive bra.
Experts are still unsure why breast milk can cause the breast tissue to become inflamed. One theory is, that it, may be due to the presence of cytokines in breast milk. Cytokines are special proteins that are used by the immune system, and are passed on to your baby in order to help them resist infection. It may be the case that your immune system mistakes these cytokines for a bacterial or viral infection and responds by inflaming the breast tissue in an attempt to stop the spread of infection.
Mastitis occurs when bacteria enter your breast through a break or crack in the skin of your nipple or through the opening to the milk ducts in your nipple. Bacteria from your skin’s surface and baby’s mouth enter the milk duct and can multiply — leading to pain, redness and swelling of the breast as infection progresses.
Mastitis is a medical condition characterized by an inflammation of the breast. It can occur in women who are lactating, as well as in women who are not lactating, and even in men.
In lactating women, mastitis is generally caused when the milk ducts become blocked. This can cause the woman’s nipples and other parts of her breast to become painful. She may also experience symptoms that are similar to the flu, such as the chills and a feeling of fatigue, and may develop a fever. The breast may also be warm to the touch and turn red in color.
Mastitis in lactating women can be treated with plenty of rest, which helps the immune system function better. Alternating warm and cold compresses on the affected breast can also help alleviate the pain and symptoms of mastitis, as the cold compresses help with the pain and the warm compresses improve circulation. Applying warm water to the breast, such as by taking a warm shower or bath, is more effective then applying dry heat with a heating pad.
Massaging the breast can also help improve circulation and loosen up the plugged ducts in the breast. Combining massage with a warm bath is often a successful method for treating mastitis. Drinking lots of fluids and maintaining proper nutrition can also be beneficial.
Many breastfeeding women mistakenly stop breastfeeding when they develop mastitis. This only encourages mastitis to progress. Rather, the milk should be kept flowing to prevent the breast from becoming sore and inflamed. If the effected breast hurts too much to breast-feed, the mother should feed from the other side first in order to get the ducts flowing.
Mastitis can also be caused by a variety of diseases, illnesses, and lifestyle choices. Cigarette smoking and nipple piercings, for example, can lead to mastitis. Diabetes and thyroid problems can also cause mastitis. In these cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve the problem. This is particularly true if the condition is chronic and does not respond to treatment, such as the use of antibiotics or other treatments used for mastitis caused by lactation.
In rare cases, mastitis can be caused by inflammatory breast cancer. This form of breast cancer is very aggressive and, therefore, has the highest mortality rate of all forms of breast cancer. Individuals experiencing mastitis for more than two weeks should see a doctor in order to rule out the possibility of inflammatory breast cancer.