Mastitis and abscess while breastfeeding
Mastitis causes redness, severe pain, fever and a flu-like weariness in the breast. It usually starts quickly and leaves the mother seriously worn down.
If it is left too long, pus collects inside the breast and an abscess develops. At that point antibiotics alone are not enough: the abscess has to be drained.
How mastitis is treated
The biggest mistake is stopping breastfeeding. The opposite is needed: the milk has to be emptied, because inflammation feeds on milk left in the duct.
With antibiotics, painkillers, warm compresses and the right breastfeeding advice, most patients settle within 48 hours.
Instead of large incisions we now drain it with a needle under ultrasound guidance, or through a small incision.
Breastfeeding can continue once the abscess has been drained; it speeds up recovery.
Infection in women who are not breastfeeding
Breast infection also occurs in women who are not breastfeeding. In smokers in particular, recurring abscesses can appear in the ducts beneath the nipple.
In this picture, preventing recurrence may mean dealing with the duct tissue at the source of the inflammation. Giving up smoking is an inseparable part of the treatment.