Acute mastitis

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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The causes of acute mastitis

The main causes of mastitis are as follows: First, the accumulation of milk is due to improper breastfeeding techniques or incidental contact with the mammary glands by the child, which causes the milk ducts to close and ultimately leads to the accumulation of milk. Milk is an ideal culture medium that facilitates bacterial growth, leading to mastitis. Second, bacterial invasion occurs when there are cracks or abrasions on the nipple, allowing bacteria to travel along the milk ducts to reach and infect the mammary lobules. Lastly, a decrease in the patient's own immune system can also lead to bacterial infection.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Acute Mastitis Symptoms and Treatment

Patients with mastitis often feel pain in the breast, with localized redness, swelling, and fever. As the inflammation progresses, there can be chills, high fever, and increased pulse rate, often accompanied by swelling and tenderness of the lymph nodes on the affected side. A routine blood test can show a significant increase in white blood cells. For treatment, if there is swelling, it is recommended to stop breastfeeding and apply topical Levofloxacin. Blood tests should be checked, and if white blood cell count exceeds 10,000, intravenous antibiotics are advised. If below 10,000, oral anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken for symptomatic treatment. After three days, recheck the blood routine to decide on further symptomatic treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
45sec home-news-image

The causes of acute mastitis include

The causes of mastitis are firstly bacterial invasion and secondly the accumulation of milk. The accumulation of milk mainly occurs during breastfeeding, due to the position of holding the child or unintentional bumps by the child, which cause damage to the milk ducts, constriction of the ducts, leading to a large amount of milk being trapped inside the ducts. Since milk is an excellent culture medium, it results in bacterial growth. Bacterial invasion usually occurs through cracked or fissured nipples, allowing bacteria to enter the milk ducts and into the breast tissue, causing mastitis. Another situation is a decrease in the body's immune system, for example, due to poor sleep or emotional stress. These are the main causes of acute mastitis.