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Acute mastitis
How many days does it take for the fever from acute mastitis to go away?
The fever associated with acute mastitis can subside within a few days, but it needs to be evaluated through ultrasound and a complete blood count; these tests can be performed in the breast department of a standard hospital. If the blood count exceeds 10,000, temporary fever reduction is possible, but inflammation can cause fever to recur. In such cases, local warm and moist compresses are recommended, and injections of saline combined with penicillin can be administered to help reduce inflammation. Systemic antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins can be used. Since antibiotics can be secreted into breast milk and affect infants, the use of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfa drugs, and metronidazole should be avoided. After three days of intravenous treatment, a follow-up complete blood count should be conducted to determine whether anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment should be discontinued.
Does acute mastitis require milk dredging?
During acute mastitis, it is necessary to apply local heat and then clear the milk ducts by stroking them to drain excess milk. If milk stasis occurs in the ducts, it can aggravate inflammation and, in severe cases, lead to the formation of a breast abscess. Once a breast abscess forms, it requires incision and drainage, so it is essential to completely drain any residual milk during acute mastitis. For acute pancreatitis, prevention is more important than treatment. The specific methods include maintaining nipple cleanliness during breastfeeding, frequently washing the nipples with warm soapy water, developing good breastfeeding habits, breastfeeding regularly, ensuring that the milk is fully drawn each time, and if not, either manually expressing or using a breast pump. Additionally, avoid letting the baby sleep with the nipple in their mouth.
Methods for reducing swelling in acute mastitis
Methods for reducing swelling in acute mastitis: First, determine whether the acute mastitis is caused by milk stasis or by bacterial invasion and decreased immune resistance. If it is simply due to milk stasis, nursing can still be continued if the symptoms are mild and the lesion is not severe. However, the affected breast should not be used for nursing, and a breast pump can be used to extract the milk. If the condition is caused by bacteria, it is recommended to apply local moist heat. Penicillin and other saline can be injected around the inflammation. Systemic antibiotics, such as penicillin or cephalosporins, can be used. However, since antibiotics can be secreted into the milk and affect the infant, the use of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and sulfa drugs should be avoided.
What medication is used for acute mastitis?
Acute mastitis typically requires three types of medications: topical medications, oral medications, and intravenous medications. Topical medications, also known as local medications, are mainly used to reduce swelling, such as 33% to 50% magnesium sulfate or traditional Chinese medicine topical applications made in Chinese medicine hospitals. Oral medications generally consist primarily of antibiotics, focusing on cephalosporins and erythromycin. Intravenous medications are used when acute mastitis is more severe and oral antibiotics are ineffective, requiring intravenous antibiotic infusions. It is crucial not to purchase medications arbitrarily at pharmacies but to follow the recommendations of a doctor.
Which part of the body is moxibustion applied to for acute mastitis?
In cases of acute mastitis, it is recommended to promptly visit a formal hospital and receive timely treatment under the guidance of a doctor. Under the doctor's guidance, treatment should be administered through medication. If mastitis is not treated promptly, it can easily lead to a worsening of the condition and the formation of breast abscesses, which not only prolongs the treatment period but in severe cases, may also require surgery. Moxibustion is a slow treatment method, so it is crucial to treat acute symptoms promptly with medication. However, moxibustion can be performed on acupoints such as Tanzhong and Rugen to achieve effective regulation.
Can acute mastitis be treated with hot compresses?
Acute mastitis can be treated with hot compresses, which can reduce local pain, dilate the milk ducts, and facilitate the expulsion of milk. To completely cure mastitis, it is essential to visit a hospital for examination. Under a doctor's guidance, taking antibacterial drugs for anti-infection treatment is recommended. For women who are breastfeeding, the priority in treating mastitis is to empty the breast milk first; thereafter, taking antibacterial drugs for anti-infection treatment is advisable. For severe cases of mastitis, it may be necessary to perform puncture aspiration or incision and drainage to achieve optimal treatment results. Patients with mastitis should pay attention to their diet and eat lightly in daily life, avoiding particularly greasy foods. It is advisable to eat light meals, vegetables, and fruits.
What department should I go to for acute mastitis?
What department to see for acute mastitis is a very common question. Acute mastitis often refers to the inflammation of the mammary glands during breastfeeding or pregnancy. Of course, this also includes breast injuries from physical trauma or parasites. Early-stage acute mastitis can manifest changes such as mild local pain and swelling, and possibly fever without other significant symptoms. Therefore, the early stage of acute mastitis can be quite confusing. In fact, one should visit the Breast Surgery department, Thyroid Breast Surgery, or Breast Thyroid Surgery department in major hospitals. If these specialties are not available, it is advisable to consult a doctor who has received advanced training in relevant fields at higher-level hospitals, typically a general surgery or gynecology specialist.
Can acute mastitis continue breastfeeding?
Acute mastitis is an acute suppurative infection, which can be divided into three stages according to its cause and pathological process: acute inflammatory stage, abscess formation stage, and ulceration stage. Corresponding treatments are applied at each stage. During the acute inflammatory phase, antibiotics such as penicillin should be used to control the progression of inflammation. Once an abscess forms, the main measure is to incise and drain pus in a timely manner, while also taking medicine to clear heat and detoxify. In the ulceration stage, proactive dressing changes and wound cleaning are necessary, along with internal use of heat-clearing and detoxifying medications, and decoctions that promote pus drainage. In principle, breastfeeding should be temporarily halted, and a breast pump should be used regularly to extract milk, ensuring smooth milk flow and preventing stasis. Additionally, wearing a supportive bra can help lift the breasts, and moist heat should be applied to the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes, three to four times a day. Afterwards, the nipples should be cleaned with diluted saltwater. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can I eat eggs with acute mastitis?
Patients with acute mastitis can eat eggs, but should not consume them in excess, as too many can lead to increased accumulation of body fat and elevated cholesterol levels. Prevention is more important than treatment for mastitis, and specific methods include maintaining nipple cleanliness during lactation. Frequently wash with warm, soapy water, and nipples can also be washed with 3% boric acid water before and after breastfeeding. For those with inverted nipples, gently squeeze out the nipple before washing. It is important to develop good breastfeeding habits, breastfeed on a schedule, and ensure that all the milk is drawn out each time. If the milk cannot be fully expressed, use hand massage or a breast pump. Additionally, do not let the baby suckle while sleeping. If there is nipple damage or cracking, stop breastfeeding, use a breast pump to extract milk, and resume breastfeeding once the wound has healed.
What should I do about acute mastitis during lactation?
Firstly, let's assess the condition of acute mastitis by conducting a routine blood test and color ultrasound for further examination and diagnosis. If the white blood cell count exceeds 10,000, breastfeeding should be discontinued, and local anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment should be applied. If the white blood cell count is below 10,000 but there is localized redness and swelling, external application of rifanuo and oral anti-inflammatory medications can be used. Breast massage by a professional or a family member can help clear the milk ducts. If there is a severe lump, it is recommended to stop breastfeeding and focus on anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. Observe whether the inflammatory lump can shrink; if it does, continue with local anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. If the severe lump continues to grow, it's advised to stop breastfeeding and proceed with local surgical treatment.