How should acute mastitis be treated?

Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

Updated on September 26, 2024

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Firstly, it is essential to prevent the accumulation of milk and avoid damage to the nipples while keeping them clean. After each breastfeeding, wash the nipples with soap. If the nipples are inverted, frequently squeeze and pull them to correct this. It is important to establish a regular breastfeeding schedule to prevent the baby from sleeping without releasing the nipple. Each breastfeeding session should drain the milk completely; if there is any accumulation, massage or use a breast pump to extract all the milk. After breastfeeding, clean the nipples. If there is any damage or cracking on the nipples, timely treatment is necessary. For the care of the baby's oral cavity, local heat application and massage can be provided.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie

Breast Surgery

1min 12sec

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How to reduce fever in acute mastitis

For fever in acute mastitis, it is first recommended to obtain a complete blood test to check if white blood cells and neutrophils are elevated. Of course, there are basic conservative methods and medication treatments for fever reduction. The conservative approach includes drinking plenty of water, preferably warm. Secondly, local application of magnesium sulfate can be used, with concentrations ranging from 33%-50%. During hot weather, it can be applied directly as a wet compress on the inflamed breast. It is important to thoroughly clean the breast, especially the nipple, before breastfeeding to prevent the baby from ingesting magnesium sulfate, which can cause diarrhea in infants. Thirdly, if the blood test shows an increase in white blood cells and neutrophils, intravenous antibiotics are used, commonly referred to by people as anti-inflammatory injections. Using antibacterial medications at this time can rapidly reduce fever. The fourth method is to temporarily use fever-reducing medications, which, along with magnesium sulfate, are available at pharmacies. However, for antibiotics, it is best to go to a hospital.

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Written by Cui Yu Rong

Breast Surgery

46sec

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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

46sec

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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 Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

50sec

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What should be noted for acute mastitis?

For acute mastitis, it is important to keep the nipples clean. The nipples should often be washed with soapy warm water, and rinsed with clean water before and after breastfeeding. Patients with inverted nipples should gently extrude the nipple before cleaning it, but should not use alcohol to clean the area, as alcohol can make the skin of the nipple and areola brittle and prone to cracking. It is important to develop good breastfeeding habits, breastfeeding on a regular schedule, and ensuring that all the milk is drawn out each time. If the milk cannot be fully expressed, it should be manually massaged out or extracted using a breast pump. Additionally, do not let the baby sleep with the nipple in their mouth. If there are any nipple injuries or cracks, stop breastfeeding, use a breast pump to extract the milk, and resume breastfeeding only after the wounds have healed.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie

Breast Surgery

56sec

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Acute mastitis occurs how long after childbirth?

Acute mastitis can occur a few weeks after childbirth, usually within the first two to three weeks, although it can also appear later during the breastfeeding period. The key issue is to maintain the flow of breast milk and the patency of the milk ducts during breastfeeding. It is recommended to wash both nipples before breastfeeding, let the baby completely empty one breast first, then move on to the second breast. If the baby is full and doesn't finish the milk from the other breast, it's best to empty that breast either by using a breast pump or having the father extract the milk. For the next feeding, start with the other breast, which was the second breast previously used, and alternate accordingly. Additionally, nipple care is important; after the baby has finished feeding, express a little milk and apply it on the nipple surface. Before the next feeding, wash the nipple with clean water more diligently. This can help reduce the occurrence of acute mastitis.