Does acute mastitis have lumps?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Mastitis involves inflammation, and severe cases can lead to inflammatory lumps. Generally, we use breast ultrasonography for diagnosis and differentiation. If the ultrasonography report indicates a cystic formation, it is typically considered to be caused by the accumulation of milk. At this point, ceasing breastfeeding and seeking massage from a professional or a loved one to clear the accumulated milk can be curative. If the ultrasonography report shows an inflammatory hard lump or a solid mass, we recommend stopping breastfeeding and starting anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. If the lump shows signs of shrinking, continue the anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. However, if there is no change in the inflammatory lump, surgical treatment is recommended to remove the inflamed mass.

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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.

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Written by Cui Yu Rong
Breast Surgery
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Acute Mastitis Etiology

Acute mastitis generally refers to lactational mastitis, which can occur at any time during lactation, but is more common in the beginning stages of lactation in primiparous women. The most common causes of acute mastitis are milk stasis and bacterial invasion. Therefore, the prevention of acute mastitis mainly targets these two aspects. Besides enhancing the immune system of the mother, it is crucial to maintain good breastfeeding habits. This includes cleaning the nipples and the baby's mouth before and after feeding, keeping the nipple area clean, minimizing damage to the nipple area, and controlling bacterial invasion.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Does acute mastitis have lumps?

Mastitis involves inflammation, and severe cases can lead to inflammatory lumps. Generally, we use breast ultrasonography for diagnosis and differentiation. If the ultrasonography report indicates a cystic formation, it is typically considered to be caused by the accumulation of milk. At this point, ceasing breastfeeding and seeking massage from a professional or a loved one to clear the accumulated milk can be curative. If the ultrasonography report shows an inflammatory hard lump or a solid mass, we recommend stopping breastfeeding and starting anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. If the lump shows signs of shrinking, continue the anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. However, if there is no change in the inflammatory lump, surgical treatment is recommended to remove the inflamed mass.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
54sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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What are the symptoms of acute mastitis?

During the onset of acute mastitis, symptoms often include high fever and chills, and the affected breast may enlarge and become firm, with throbbing pain that becomes more apparent during breastfeeding. This is usually accompanied by an increase in local skin temperature, redness and swelling, and tenderness. If the area softens over a short period, an abscess may have formed. If the infection is not controlled, it can lead to systemic infection or sepsis. Patients often have swollen lymph nodes, and blood tests show elevated neutrophil counts in white blood cells.