How to quickly cure the initial stage of mastitis. Treatment of mastitis with antibiotics

Inflammation of breast tissue is a problem well known to all women, especially those who have given birth and are breastfeeding a child. The symptoms of mastitis have specific characteristics, so there are no problems with diagnosing the disease.

Applying for a qualified medical care when the first signs appear inflammatory process in the mammary glands is considered mandatory. Only a specialist will be able to assess the woman’s condition, select effective treatment and make some predictions. But official medicine does not exclude the use of folk remedies in the treatment of mastitis - they really have healing effect, help maintain lactation and continue breastfeeding.

Treating mastitis at home

Our ancestors were also “familiar” with the disease in question, so it is not surprising that there are dozens of recipes that can be used to prepare remedy. There are also some rules that should be followed if a woman notices the first signs of inflammation of the mammary gland.

If a lump appears in the breast, the skin over it has acquired a red tint and becomes hot to the touch, then the woman should follow the following recommendations:

Note:If a woman has a lump with purulent contents (abscess) in her breast, then under no circumstances should she feed her baby even with a healthy breast! Milk should be expressed and poured out regularly - this will prevent the progression of the purulent-inflammatory process and maintain lactation in order to continue breastfeeding after recovery.

Traditional treatment of mastitis: compresses

As soon as a lump appears in the breast, or pain in the mammary gland is noted during feeding (these are the first signs of mastitis), you need to use one of the following compress recipes:

Note:All compresses can be applied only after a doctor’s permission has been received. In any case, when a woman’s body temperature is elevated, any warming procedures are contraindicated, which means compresses are prohibited.

Ointments for treating mastitis at home

Ointments for the treatment of mastitis have a certain popularity - they are easy to prepare and apply without any effort. A woman should remember that ointments cannot be rubbed into the skin of the affected breast, they must be applied lightly in a circular motion. In fact, there are many recipes for such remedies for the treatment of inflammation of the mammary gland. We offer you to familiarize yourself with only a few of them:

The above describes the most popular methods of treating mastitis, which are known not only traditional healers, but also to official representatives of medicine. But there is also something not quite traditional methods, which deserve attention, especially since they are approved official medicine.

Extraordinary methods of treating mastitis

As soon as the first signs of inflammation of the mammary gland appear (redness of the skin, thickening or pain while feeding the baby), you need to take an isotonic solution, moisten a gauze pad in it and apply it to the problem breast until it dries completely. Such applications must be made at least 5 per day. Instead of an isotonic solution, you can use a strong saline solution, prepared from 200 ml of water and 2 tablespoons of regular salt.

From ordinary beets you need to “extract” 150 liters of juice, mix it with 50 ml vegetable oil(preference should be given to sea buckthorn), 1 tablespoon of chopped golden root and 100 grams of grated carrots. The resulting mass should be applied to the skin of the affected breast, focusing on the location of the inflammatory process.

If mastitis occurs in spring and early summer, then you need to find potato flowers (they can be white or purple), collect them in the amount of 1 tablespoon and pour 200 ml of boiling water. The product is infused for 20-30 minutes, then consumed ¼ cup 2 times a day.

Note:potato flowers can provoke an exacerbation chronic diseases organs gastrointestinal tract, so you need to be extremely careful when using this product.

If mastitis is just beginning, and there is no lump yet, and a woman only feels stagnation of milk in her breasts, then a pulp of boiled beets, black bread crumb (in equal proportions) and 3-5 drops of sesame seed oil will help her. This product is applied to the problematic breast, left for 2-3 hours and then washed off warm water.

If the disease is already actively progressing and is in an advanced stage, then you will need to prepare the following remedy:

• melted wax in the amount of 30 grams mixed with 5 drops camphor oil, 4 drops of rose oil and 10 grams of wood ash;
• mix everything thoroughly and heat in a water bath so that the mass is “good, but tolerably hot.”

The mass is applied to the sore breast three times a day.

Mastitis is a well-studied disease that can be easily cured with folk remedies. Here it is important to understand that you will first need to visit a specialist and only after that use some of the folk remedies for therapy. You should not change the remedy every day - the therapeutic effect is unlikely to take place in this case, but it would be appropriate to consult with your doctor about the choice. Our article describes proven ones. safe and approved by official medicine for the treatment of mastitis from the category of “traditional medicine”, so they can be used without fear of the development of complications and/or undesirable consequences.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category

Breast mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland tissue in women. Previously, this disease was called differently - breastfeeding. Most often, the inflammatory process occurs unilaterally. It spreads quite quickly, so if at least one symptom of this disease appears, you should proceed to immediate treatment.

Most often, mastitis in women occurs during breastfeeding or during last days pregnancy. In rare cases, the appearance of the disease has been observed in newborns and non-lactating teenage girls. Breast mastitis, the symptoms of which are identified in this category of patients, is called non-lactational.

In order to minimize the risk of this problem and learn how to avoid mastitis altogether, you should familiarize yourself with the reasons why it appears.

The development of the disease begins after bacteria enter the tissues in the chest area. This can occur through nipple damage such as cracks. The infection may be on the woman's skin or in the mouth of the newborn baby she is nursing. After this, the bacteria begin to multiply rapidly, and symptoms of the disease appear noticeably. Inflammation of the mammary gland in women nursing babies can occur for the following reasons:

• The presence of cracks and other damage to the nipples;
• The only position for feeding. Breastfeeding must take place in various positions, otherwise a significant amount of milk may remain in the mammary gland;
• An ill-fitting bra. A nursing woman should choose underwear that is comfortable and not tight. The bra should support the breasts, keeping them in their natural state.
• Repeated inflammatory process. If health problems arose during your first pregnancy, there is a high probability of them occurring again. Also, the possibility of disease increases with untimely or incorrect therapy. Treatment is necessary when the first symptom of irritation is detected.

In addition to the above, lactostasis is considered one of the main reasons for the onset of the development of the inflammatory process. Congestion in the mammary gland is a kind of impetus for the appearance of mastitis. A prolonged absence of milk serves as the basis for the formation of a favorable environment in which bacteria multiply. The infection that arises after this can cause not only inflammation, but also fever with suppuration.

Non-lactation irritation of the mammary gland

In addition to the inflammatory process that occurs during lactation, another type of problem may develop. To understand the question of what non-lactation mastitis is, you need to familiarize yourself with information about the reasons for its occurrence. Among these are:

• Damage mammary glands subsequent injuries;
• Presence in the chest foreign bodies. These include implants and piercings;
• Formation of ulcers;
• Impaired metabolism;
• Various procedures carried out in violation of sanitary and antiseptic standards.

The non-lactating species is rare. In addition to it, mastitis of newborns is isolated. The reasons for its occurrence are maternal hormones that enter the young body during pregnancy or lactation, as well as poor child care and non-compliance with hygiene rules.

General symptoms and warning signs of mastitis

As stated earlier, unilateral type mastitis most often occurs. In rare situations, a bilateral inflammatory process occurs.

To find out how to recognize inflammation of the mammary glands and get rid of mastitis in time, you should study information about its symptoms.

1. Unpleasant sensations.
2. Swelling and increase in the size of the diseased area of ​​the body.
3. Increased body temperature and chills.
4. Detection of blood or pus in the milk of a nursing mother.
5. Pain during breastfeeding and pumping.
6. Decreased appetite and loss of strength.
7. General weakness of the body.

These criteria are the first signs of inflammation of the mammary glands. If at least one of the symptoms of the disease is detected, treatment should be started immediately. Only a qualified person can prescribe the correct procedure and tell you how to cure mastitis and what to do if infected. medical worker. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, this disease can be cured within a few days.

It is worth noting that self-medication in this period time is not recommended at all. Otherwise, the risk of complications and severe forms of the disease increases.

Complications of inflammation of the mammary glands

Belated and wrong treatment problems in nursing women can cause a number of complications.

1. Sepsis. Too advanced a stage of the disease can cause blood poisoning.
2. Presence of inflammation on the body significant amount purulent foci entails health problems such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis.
3. Infectious-toxic shock.
4. Fistula formation.

Stages of the inflammatory process

In order to determine one or another stage, it is recommended to familiarize yourself in more detail with the characteristics of each of them.

1. Serous. This stage considered initial. Often, the symptoms of mastitis in this case are almost impossible to distinguish from lactostasis. Learning to distinguish one disease from another is not at all difficult. Due to stagnation of milk, nursing mothers may complain of heaviness and discomfort in the area of ​​the sore chest. With lactostasis, the pumping procedure becomes painful, but in this case there is no lack of milk. Stagnation is temporary, so if the illness lasts more than 2 days, you should think about serous mastitis. An increase in body temperature and a general deterioration in the patient’s health are other indicators of the first period of infection. Sometimes there come moments when the serous period passes on its own. Otherwise, the next stage begins.

1. Infiltrative stage. The second form of mastitis can be characterized by the presence of a dense, uniform compaction in the sore spot. It increases in size, but there are no other visual changes - redness or swelling. With absence therapeutic therapy at this stage of the problem, purulent formations appear, and the next form of the disease process occurs.

1. Destructive. During this period, toxins contained in purulent formations penetrate into the patient’s blood. There is a significant increase in body temperature - up to 39-40 degrees. Other health problems immediately appear - frequent headaches, lack of appetite, sleep disturbances.

Consultation on how to determine one or another stage of the problem, and how treatment of mastitis in nursing women should proceed, can be obtained from the attending physician. The destructive form of the disease can be seen visually - the affected area of ​​the breast turns red and increases in size. The veins in this area of ​​the body become pronounced. In every situation, treatment of mastitis should be carried out immediately.

Forms of the disease

Based on their temporary nature, there are 2 types of irritation of the mammary gland:

• acute;
• chronic.

In the first version, the disease appears suddenly, its signs are clearly identified. Most often this happens in the postpartum period.

The chronic form of breast damage occurs when the serous stage is treated incorrectly. Its main characteristic is the presence of irritation during a certain period of time. Effective treatment in this case, it is only possible with the help of surgical intervention. A thorough sanitation of the milk ducts and subsequent competent antibacterial therapy are necessary.

Treatment

If primary signs of a problem are detected, you should immediately contact a doctor treating the disease - a mammologist. Only a qualified doctor will tell you exactly what to do with mastitis, how to accurately determine inflammation of the mammary gland and select treatment.

Before you begin to treat breast inflammation, you need to determine the nature and stage of development of the disease, the causes of its occurrence, as well as the volume of the affected area of ​​the body and the duration of the disease.

The most common treatment method is antibiotics. To achieve a favorable effect in the shortest possible time, the selection of medications is carried out by the doctor individually for each patient. Proper prescription of medications will help quickly expel the infection from the body.

In cases where the manifestation of the inflammatory process is similar to lactostasis, it is recommended to drink antiseptics and monitor the dynamics of the disease. In more difficult cases when the harbingers of mastitis talk about it last stage, surgical intervention is necessary. An operation is performed during which the pus is sucked out from the affected area.

How to treat mastitis at home

There are many recipes traditional medicine that will help get rid of the causes of breast disease.

1. Rice starch compress. You can relieve the symptoms and treatment of mastitis using rice starch diluted in water. The resulting mixture should resemble sour cream in consistency. Using a bandage, you need to apply the product to the sore spot. You can see the effect of this method of treating mastitis after 3 hours.

1. Pumpkin. Heat a piece of sweet vegetable pulp in the microwave and apply to the painful area. Change every 15 minutes.

1. Apple. You can remove cracked nipples using grated apple mixed with butter.

1. Narcissus. Chopped narcissus root mixed in equal proportions with rye flour and boiled rice will prevent the mammary gland from becoming very inflamed. Apply the resulting mixture to the affected area of ​​the body several times a day.

1. Particular attention should be paid hygiene procedures. Contrast massage with jets of warm and cool water while taking a bath will relieve painful sensations.

The symptoms and signs of mastitis are most often pronounced, so it is very difficult not to notice the development of this health problem. Familiarization with primary information about inflammation of the mammary glands will provide enough level knowledge about how to treat this disease. The emergence of concerns about its development should serve as an impetus for immediate consultation with a doctor.

How are antibiotics used for mastitis? An experienced doctor will explain this question to us. Mastitis is an inflammatory process in the mammary gland. More often develops in women during lactation ( breast-feeding), mainly among those who became mothers for the first time. However, it can develop before childbirth and regardless of pregnancy. In cases of exacerbation, treatment with antibiotics or even surgery.

There are 3 forms of mastitis:

1. Lactation (or postpartum) mastitis - develops due to stagnation breast milk in the mammary gland or incomplete emptying of the gland when feeding the baby.
2. Fibrocystic mastitis - develops against the background hormonal disorders, after injury female breast at secondary development inflammation. Very often develops when exposed to pathogenic organisms into the mammary gland already affected by the cyst.
3. Breast of newborns - special shape mastitis, which affects the mammary glands of a newborn, regardless of the sex of the child. This pathology is mainly associated with the entry of lactogenic hormones from the mother’s bloodstream.

The cause of primary inflammation of the mammary gland is improper breastfeeding. The baby does not eat all the milk. It accumulates and stagnates in the mammary gland. This causes swelling of the mammary gland, then swelling. The mammary gland becomes vulnerable.

Pathogenic microorganisms (mainly staphylococci, streptococci), entering the gland, cause inflammation. Even when the mammary gland is completely emptied of milk, microbes can enter the milk ducts through cracks in the nipple. Cracks occur mainly due to improper attachment of the baby to the breast. Bacteria make their way into the gland from the mouth of a newborn, through contaminated underwear, and if the rules of breast hygiene are not properly observed during pregnancy and lactation.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of mastitis include:

1. Breast compaction.
2. Redness of the skin area.
3. Bursting pain inside the chest.
4. Increased body temperature.

Without proper treatment, inflammation progresses. The gland enlarges, causing the skin to become tense and hot to the touch. When feeding, there is a sharp pain, and pus can sometimes seep into the milk. Reducing the frequency of feeding or stopping it completely worsens the situation. In advanced cases of inflammation, mastitis can develop into phlegmonous (purulent damage to adjacent tissues) or even gangrenous (death of inflamed cells) forms.

Treatment of mastitis with antibiotics

If you detect any formation in the breast, discomfort or pain during feeding, you must urgently consult a doctor, since if you ignore alarms there is a risk of serious complications for the health and even life of a woman. Only a qualified doctor will be able to distinguish mastitis from other breast diseases and formulate the correct treatment tactics. Based clinical picture

, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic treatment.

If the baby does not eat all the milk, you will need to express additional milk yourself. For these purposes, special breast pumps are used or, if the pain intensity is weak, expressing can be done manually using the fingers.

These are only the first measures to alleviate the situation, for full treatment It is strongly recommended that you seek the assistance of a qualified professional.

Mastitis, which develops against the background of the activity of pyogenic microorganisms, requires treatment with antibiotics.

When should you take antibiotics during mastitis?

• if symptoms, by all indications indicating mastitis, do not go away within 24 hours;
• the clinical picture of the disease is stable within 24 hours, that is, there are no changes, either towards worsening or improving the condition;
• if a sharp increase in symptoms and deterioration in general condition is observed within 12 hours.

When not to use antibiotics

• if inflammation of the mammary gland is diagnosed as mastitis by all indications, but less than 24 hours have passed since the onset of its development;
• if the sick woman’s condition begins to improve without the use of antibacterial drugs.

What drugs are used to treat mastitis?

Since the causative agent of the inflammatory process is staphylococcal bacteria, to cure mastitis, antibacterial drugs are used that act specifically on this group of microorganisms, in particular on Staphylococcus aureus, which is present in normal microflora human skin and can easily enter the body through various injuries skin(which is what a cracked nipple is) and cause inflammation.

The traditional antibiotic penicillin usually does not bring the desired result, since microorganisms have learned to develop immunity against this drug. More effective antibiotics for mastitis are combined antibacterial agents:

1. Amoxiclav. The drug contains the antibiotic amoxicillin and the bacterial enzyme inhibitor clavulanic acid.
2. Clindamycin. Semi-synthetic antibacterial agent.
3. Ciprofloxacin. Synthetic antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone group. It has both antibacterial and bactericidal effects.
4. Flucloxacillin. Belongs to the group of penicillins. It is worth noting that it affects microorganisms that are in the growth phase, which brings a positive effect at the initial stage of the disease.
5. Cephalexin. Antibacterial and bactericidal agent from the group of cephalosporins. Inhibits enzymes involved in mucopeptide synthesis cell wall microbes
6. Cloxacillin. Semi-synthetic antibiotic from the penicillin group. Resistant to enzymes that destroy penicillin.

To prevent such an unpleasant phenomenon as mastitis, you need to follow some simple rules: the baby must be applied to the breast correctly (the baby must completely grasp the entire nipple along with the areola, and if necessary, change feeding positions).

Feeding should be done when the baby requires it, and not according to a schedule. To completely empty the gland, you should not limit the frequency and duration of feedings. If the baby eats well, often and relatively a lot, there is no need for additional pumping, since in this case excess milk production may occur, which increases the risk of stagnation.

The mother needs to follow the hygienic rules of feeding and caring for the mammary gland: wash her hands, wear clean underwear, change the bed on time.

Mastitis is diagnosed in 17–33% of lactating women. In 11 cases out of 100, the disease develops into an abscess and can threaten the patient’s life. The best prevention complications and death - timely diagnosis and correct treatment inflammation of the mammary gland.

Conservative therapy or surgery: when, to whom and why

Conservative treatment prescribed to women with the serous form and early stage of infiltrative mastitis. The disease is accompanied by redness of the skin, an increase in temperature to 38–38.5 degrees, pain in the mammary glands and engorgement.

TO conservative methods applies:

• taking antibiotics and antibacterial drugs;
• the use of ointments, compresses, massage and thermal procedures;
• taking dietary supplements and vitamin complexes;
• use of folk remedies.

Surgical intervention is recommended for exacerbation of mastitis and the transition of the infiltrative form to the abscess form. The patient develops one large or several medium-sized capsules filled with pus in the chest. The mammary gland becomes hard and painful, inflammation spreads to soft fabrics and small capillaries.

Treatment of lactation mastitis

Mastitis develops more often in breastfeeding women. In most patients, the disease is diagnosed 6–12 weeks after birth. Conservative treatment lactation mastitis consists of several points:

1. Consult a doctor and continue breastfeeding. A woman is advised not to suppress lactation, but to apply the baby to the mammary glands at least 9–12 times a day. Regular feeding prevents milk stagnation, alleviates the symptoms of mastitis and speeds up recovery.
2. Effective milk removal. If the doctor recommends stopping breastfeeding for a while, the woman should express milk by hand, with a warm bottle or with a breast pump. Special devices can be supplemented with massage. It improves blood circulation, helps remove plugs in the milk ducts and makes pumping easier. Massage should be carried out after consulting a doctor, because in some cases it only increases inflammation.
3. Symptomatic treatment. Lactating patients are prescribed analgesics that are safe for the baby. Products reduce fever and discomfort in the mammary glands, help the body fight inflammation.
4. Antibacterial therapy. Analgesics complement antibacterial agents. They are prescribed if available and severe course diseases. Antibacterial drugs are necessary if mastitis symptoms have not improved 12–24 hours after milk flow has improved.

Antibacterial therapy is selected after bacterial culture of milk. The doctor must determine which infection caused the inflammation: Staphylococcus aureus or gram-negative organisms. This determines which drug is best prescribed for effective treatment.

Treatment of non-lactation mastitis

Therapy non-lactational mastitis depends on the course of the disease. If the pathology arose due to hormonal imbalance in the body and is not accompanied by pronounced symptoms, treatment is not required. Patients are advised to see a doctor and follow a diet. In some cases, a specialist may prescribe hormonal therapy, if there are no contraindications.

For chest pain, fever and redness of the skin, the doctor will prescribe painkillers, as well as antibiotics and antihistamines. They inhibit the growth of bacteria and relieve the symptoms of mastitis.

Surgical intervention for the non-lactational form of the disease is recommended in two cases:

• symptoms of mastitis do not decrease 2–4 days after prescribing antibiotics and antihistamines;
• inflammation spreads to healthy tissue, and an abscess forms in the mammary glands.

IN postoperative period the woman is prescribed immunomodulatory drugs and vitamin-mineral complexes. They can also select hormonal medications to prevent relapse.

Conservative treatment

Drug treatment is prescribed after collecting anamnesis, ultrasound of the mammary glands, blood test and bacterial culture of milk.

Antibiotics and antibacterial drugs

Antibiotics are taken for 10–14 days. Therapy should not be interrupted even after symptoms disappear. Antibacterial drugs are administered intramuscularly or intravenously, but are sometimes prescribed orally.

For infectious mastitis, medications based on amoxicillin, a substance with antibacterial properties, are prescribed. Amoxicillin can be combined with clavulanic acid or sulbactam. The drugs suppress the development of staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, as well as gram-negative microorganisms.

Amoxicillin-based products include:

• Osmapox;
• Solutab;
• Hiconcil.

Drugs based on clavulanic acid and amoxicillin include:

• Amoxiclav;
• Augmentin;
• Moxiclave;
• Zinacef;
• Ospexin;
• Ceclor.

At the initial stage of the disease, a woman is prescribed Flucloxacillin or Cloxacillin - drugs penicillin series, which suppress the growth of microorganisms and slow down the spread of inflammation. Cephalexin, Dicloxacillin or Erythromycin are also often used.

Analgesics

Symptoms of lactation mastitis are relieved with Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. Painkillers are supplemented with antispasmodics: “No-shpa”, “Pituitrin” or a combination of “Papaverine hydrochloride” and “Oxytocin”. They improve milk flow and normalize breastfeeding.

For non-lactation mastitis, you can take Diclofenac or Nimesulide to eliminate pain syndrome, as well as diuretics herbal preparations and dietary supplements for edema and to cleanse the body of toxins.

Antihistamines

Antibacterial therapy is supplemented with antihistamines:

• Diprazine;
• Tavegil;
• Suprastin;
• Zodak;
• Diphenhydramine.

Patients prone to hypotension and septic shock, "Hydrocortisone" or "Prednisolone" is prescribed. If there is pus in the milk and refusal of breastfeeding, lactation is suppressed with Bromocriptine, Parlodel, Dostinex or Lactodel.

Immunomodulators

For infectious mastitis, immunomodulators are indicated:

• Methyluracil – orally three times a day;
• Pentoxyl – three times a day orally;
• Antistaphylococcal gamma globulin - intramuscularly three times a day, break 1-2 days;
• Polyglobulin – intramuscularly 1 time every 1–2 days;
• Taktivin – intramuscularly daily, once a day.

Immunomodulators cannot be prescribed independently. The doctor chooses the medications based on the patient’s medical history and tests.

Vitamin complexes

The body’s immunological resistance is increased by B vitamins and ascorbic acid. Micronutrients can be obtained from food or vitamin-mineral complexes:

• Undevit;
• Supervit;
• Complivit;
• Kvadevit;
• Decamevit;
• Undetab.

Vitamin complexes can be supplemented with probiotics: Linex, Bifiform or Hilak Forte. They restore intestinal microflora after antibiotic therapy and improve immunity.

Creams and ointments

Preparations for internal use are supplemented with anti-inflammatory drugs local action. They reduce swelling, heal cracks, relieve discomfort in the mammary glands and improve milk flow.

Common products for external use include:

1. Gel “Progestogel” – hormonal drug from lactostasis, swelling and discomfort. Apply once at an early stage of mastitis.
2. – anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent. Relieves swelling, reduces pain and tension. Apply 2-3 times a day during lactostasis and with the serous form of mastitis.
3. Gel "Dexpanthenol" is a restorative and anti-inflammatory drug. Heals and disinfects cracked nipples, reduces inflammation, accelerates breast regeneration after surgical intervention. Apply 2-3 times daily to clean skin, use for acute and chronic mastitis.
4. Etonium ointment is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug. Suppresses the proliferation of staphylococci and streptococci, has anesthetic and wound healing properties. Apply 1-2 times a day for acute infectious mastitis.
5. Heliomycin ointment – antimicrobial agent. Heals cracks and wounds on the mammary glands, inhibits the growth of staphylococcus and streptococcus, and removes inflammation. Apply 1-2 times a day for lactation mastitis in serous and infiltrative form.

Syntomycin, heparin and levomekol ointments have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The drugs are used externally 1–3 times a day for lactostasis and mastitis to reduce the symptoms of the disease.

Surgical treatment

The abscess form of mastitis is treated surgically. If there is one small formation, puncture aspiration of pus is possible. A thin needle is inserted into the capsule filled with secretion. The process is monitored using an ultrasound machine. Using a needle, the capsule is emptied and an antibiotic is injected into it to stop the inflammation.

For multiple and large abscesses, surgery is recommended. It is carried out in a hospital under local or general anesthesia– depends on the patient’s condition and the stage of the disease. The surgeon makes a longitudinal incision from the nipple to the base of the breast, less often a horizontal one, passing under the mammary gland. The doctor removes capsules with pus and damaged tissue, connects multiple formations and washes the wound antiseptic solution. A drainage is inserted into the cavity, which will remove the purulent contents. It is left for 3–4 days. If the inflammation decreases, the drainage is removed and the hole left behind is sutured.

After the operation, the woman is prescribed infusion therapy– cleansing the body of toxins with special solutions. The patient is also prescribed antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunomodulators.

Traditional treatment at home

Alternative treatment is appropriate only for lactostasis and serous form of mastitis. Home remedies must be combined with antibacterial therapy and immunomodulators. Efficiency traditional treatment has not been proven, but many women use improvised remedies to reduce swelling, pain and redness of the breasts.

Compresses

Mastitis compresses are prepared from medicinal herbs and vegetables. There are several options:

• pumpkin pulp boiled in milk;
• a mixture of baked onion and flaxseed oil;
• decoction of sweet clover or black alder leaves;
• flower honey cake and wheat flour;
• soybean puree;
• paste from potato starch with olive and linseed oil.

The compresses are kept for 40 minutes to 2–3 hours. Warm lotions are prohibited for purulent mastitis.

Ointments

Infectious mastitis is treated with ichthyol ointment and Vishnevsky ointment. The drugs are applied directly to the inflamed area in the form of compresses. Ichthyol ointment effective at the initial stage. It soothes itching, inflammation and slows down the proliferation of microbes.

Vishnevsky ointment is used for infectious mastitis, as well as in the postoperative period after opening an abscess. The product eliminates inflammation and accelerates the regeneration of damaged nipples and sutures.

Cabbage wraps

Cabbage leaves are useful for breast engorgement and redness. They are cooled to room temperature and applied for 1–2 hours, 6–7 times a day. Cabbage for a compress can be greased with natural butter, grated beets or yogurt.

Salt compresses

A salt compress is prepared from 50 ml of water and 30–35 g of regular or sea salt. The solution should be warm, but not hot. Cotton napkins with holes for the nipples are moistened in it and applied to the breast for 2-3 hours. The compress is contraindicated for cracks and wounds.

Water massage

Water massage is recommended for lactostasis. The procedure is carried out in the shower. The pressure should be average or maximum, the water temperature should be 37–42 degrees. The direction of the jet is from the center of the chest to the periphery. The massage is done in a circular motion and lasts 5–8 minutes.

Rubbing with alcohol

Alcohol compresses are contraindicated for mastitis. They will only increase inflammation. Rubbing the reddened area with alcohol can only be done after consulting a gynecologist.

Ice

In the first 4–5 days, it is recommended to apply an ice pack to the breast. Cold slows down the growth of bacteria and relieves discomfort. Ice is wrapped in a towel or scarf to prevent frostbite and kept for no longer than 3 minutes after each feeding.

Honey

Honey compresses and rubbing disinfect, prevent the proliferation of microbes and have wound-healing properties. Honey can be used in several ways:

• mix with onion juice;
• add to a flatbread made from wheat flour and vegetable oil;
• combine with dried duckweed and aloe juice;
• mix with sesame seeds and olive oil.

Honey compresses are used only cold and no more than 2 times a day.

Essential oils

Oils are added to cold compresses and lozenges. The most effective:

• mint – reduces fever, has antimicrobial properties;
• camphor – relieves pain and reduces inflammation;
• juniper – disinfects and removes swelling;
• fir – destroys staphylococcus, suppresses inflammation.

Add 2-3 drops to compresses essential oil. Before using the component, be sure to do allergy test to prevent rashes and swelling.

Medicinal herbs

Decoctions based on medicinal herbs are a good basis for cold compresses. Water infusions can also be taken orally, but only after consulting a doctor.

• sage – suppresses lactation, has antibiotic properties;
• melilot officinalis – relieves, reduces pain;
• alder – has anti-inflammatory properties;
• mint – soothes, relieves pain;
• chamomile is a natural antiseptic, recommended for infectious mastitis.

Timely treatment of mastitis allows you to maintain the health and function of the mammary gland. And to prevent relapses, a woman should follow the rules of hygiene, put the baby to the breast as often as possible, follow the recommendations of specialists and not refuse therapy, and if necessary, surgical intervention.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue that causes pain, swelling, a feeling of heat and redness of the breast skin. Mastitis is often accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms. Most often, this disease affects women who are breastfeeding, but in rare cases it develops outside of lactation.

In 90% of cases, mastitis is diagnosed in nursing mothers. Statistics indicate that the disease occurs in 16% of new mothers and 74% of first-born mothers. Most cases of mastitis occur in the first three months after childbirth. At the same time, the woman may experience extreme fatigue, and it becomes very difficult for her to care for the child.

Sometimes women wean their baby earlier than planned due to mastitis, although in reality it is possible to continue breastfeeding with this disease.

Mastitis in a nursing woman

In a woman after childbirth, mastitis makes itself felt within a day. More often, mastitis in nursing women develops as a result of the accumulation of milk and the addition of bacteria (staphylococcus) to it, which penetrate the woman’s mammary gland, causing a severe inflammatory process of the tissues.

If a nursing mother experiences signs of lactostasis, she should immediately consult a doctor in the postpartum department. maternity hospital or in antenatal clinic, if the situation arose after discharge from the hospital.

If you have mastitis, breastfeeding is prohibited. In addition, when treating mastitis, antibiotics are mandatory, which penetrate into mother's milk. Even with a temporary suspension of breastfeeding during mastitis, it is necessary to express milk regularly and thoroughly. This procedure will speed up recovery and maintain lactation.

To prevent lactostasis and mastitis, it is important to attach the baby to the breast during the first two hours after birth, stay together between mother and child, and freely feed the newborn. This helps empty the milk ducts and create conditions for normal lactation.

Causes of mastitis

Mastitis occurs when bacteria enters the breast tissue through cracks and other breaks in the nipples. These bacteria may be on the surface of your skin or in your baby's mouth. They begin to multiply in the mammary glands, causing symptoms of mastitis.

Risk factors for mastitis are:

• cracked nipples;
• history of mastitis;
• feeding in only one position;
• bra too tight.

If you've ever had mastitis, there's a good chance you'll get it again while nursing the same or future children. The risk of recurrent diseases increases due to delayed or inadequate treatment.

Stages of mastitis

There are three stages of mastitis:

• serous;
• infiltrative;
• purulent.

The serous stage of mastitis is manifested by a large increase in temperature and deterioration of the condition. The mammary gland becomes denser, increases in volume, and pain increases during feeding and pumping. If treatment is delayed, serous mastitis goes into the infiltrative stage within 1-3 days.

Symptoms of mastitis

In most cases, problems arise in the first days after the birth of the child. The first dangerous symptom of mastitis is the appearance of even small cracks in the nipples.

After this, bursting pain in the mammary glands often appears. The breasts swell, become tight and very dense, the skin turns red, touching the breasts becomes very painful. This condition is aggravated by a significant rise in temperature and the occurrence of chills.

Symptoms of mastitis:

• pain;
• lump in the chest;
• breast enlargement;
• chills;
• redness;
• painful sensations in the mammary glands;
• temperature increase to 39°C;
• general deterioration of health;
• weakness;
• headache.

At the first symptoms of mastitis, you must immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment immediately as prescribed. With treatment and following all recommendations, recovery occurs within a few days, otherwise mastitis progresses in a couple of days to more severe form(infiltrative).

Very soon the inflammatory process intensifies, and lumps up to 3 cm in diameter, hot to the touch, appear in the thickness of the gland. There can be several seals, while elevated temperature is preserved, and general state worsens significantly.

With such signs of mastitis, symptoms of intoxication (weakness, dizziness, headache) are added. If you do not take radical measures to treat mastitis, a severe form occurs - purulent.

Symptoms of purulent mastitis

Symptoms of purulent mastitis:

• severe redness of the skin;
• increasing swelling;
• breast enlargement;
• an admixture of pus is visible in the milk;
• pain intensifies.

The temperature during this period can rise and fall sharply, depending on the course of the inflammatory process caused by microorganisms. A decrease in temperature is usually accompanied by profuse sweating, and a fever is usually accompanied by severe chills.

Signs of mastitis at this stage:

• lack of appetite;
• nausea;
• chills;
• pain throughout the body;
• breasts are hot to the touch.

Descriptions of the main symptoms of mastitis

Treatment of mastitis

The treatment strategy for mastitis depends on the nature, duration of the disease and the extent of the affected area.

Which doctors should I contact for mastitis?

Infectious forms are treated with targeted antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. In order to achieve the desired result when carrying out bacterial culture, the type of pathogen and its concentration are determined.

In borderline conditions between mastitis and lactostasis, first of all, use antiseptics and monitor the dynamics. Only if the situation worsens, they switch to antibiotics.

You need to express milk every 3 hours, but if there is an abscess, you should not touch the breast. If purulent bags have formed, doctors open them surgically or pump out the pus through a needle, wash the mammary gland and prescribe antibiotics.

When treating mastitis, local use of cold, immunomodulators and physiotherapy are prescribed. Spicy not purulent mastitis not a hindrance to breastfeeding, but if the milk contains pus, breastfeeding is prohibited!

If you have problems with your breasts during breastfeeding, consult a doctor, do not self-medicate, it is dangerous!

Whether or not to continue breastfeeding while taking antibiotics will be determined by the doctor who prescribed the medication. With reduced immunity and erroneous treatment of mastitis and self-medication, the disease will progress to the phlegmonous and even gangrenous stage.

Folk remedies for treating mastitis at home

It must be remembered that folk remedies for the treatment of mastitis at home should be used only with the permission of the attending physician.

Diagnosis of mastitis

Mastitis is diagnosed based on characteristic features, which the doctor discovers when examining and palpating the mammary gland. Besides, axillary lymph nodes enlarge and painful when touched. In conditions of suppuration, a peculiar symptom of fluctuation will appear.

The type of bacteria and sensitivity to antibiotics are determined using bacteriological research. In addition, blood and urine tests are done for diagnosis. Sometimes the diagnosis of mastitis is supplemented by ultrasound of the mammary gland and echography of the breast. These methods provide information about the course of mastitis.

Besides, ultrasonography visualizes the abscess and helps to see necrotic areas. Ultrasound - precise process: the specificity and reliability of this technique reaches 90%. If in doubt, a fine-needle aspiration biopsy is performed.

Complications of mastitis

In the absence of adequate treatment for mastitis, an abscess can form in the breast - a cavity filled with pus. In this case, the pus has to be removed by resorting to surgical methods. To avoid this and other complications, you need to contact your doctor as soon as you notice signs of mastitis and follow all of his instructions exactly.

Questions and answers on the topic "Mastitis"

Question:Good afternoon, after treatment for mastitis I still have swelling. What do I need to do next? I'm not breastfeeding.

Answer: Hello. You need a face-to-face consultation with a doctor for examination and other diagnostic measures.

Question:Hello! I have mastitis due to a blocked duct. The mammologist expressed the pus with his hands and said that it was not an abscess yet and there was no need for a puncture. He ordered the child to be fed with this breast. After straining the redness on the same breast on the other side, you will have to go and strain it again, perhaps there is pus in another duct. Temperature 39, Augmentin prescribed. Lumps remain in the breast, the doctor said that there is no need to strain it yourself, only until relief occurs if the child refuses. Compresses, heat, and physiotherapy were categorically prohibited. Question: how else can you help yourself and speed up the healing process?

Answer: Hello. You should not be treated at home - follow the recommendations of your doctor.

Question:Hello. I have infant. I feed him milk, which I express. Since the problem is with the nipple in the right breast. Everything was fine for a month. Now my right breast hurts. It has increased in size, and one half is hard as a rock. I don't understand why. I'm pumping completely. Who to contact? What should I do?

Answer: You have all the signs of lactation mastitis. It is necessary to urgently contact a surgeon for an examination and ultrasound. Based on the results, it will be selected necessary treatment mastitis.

Question:Hello, please explain whether any other tests need to be done: my baby is 1.2 months old, I breastfed for 8 months, I am 37 years old, my right breast is currently bothering me, I can feel a small lump, about the size of a pea, during lactation my right breast was twice the size times more, and there was more milk there, and the child sucked more often on the right breast. An ultrasound scan showed signs of uneven moderate ductectasia from 0.11 to 0.24 cm. Area of ​​inflammatory infiltration. Lotions with Dimexide are recommended. But the procedure did not eliminate the seal. Is there anything else worth doing? Thank you!

Answer: In our opinion, you should consult a mammologist. The lump you described may be a completely harmless complication of limited inflammation of one milk duct against the background of lactostasis, however, this assumption still needs to be confirmed. The doctor will prescribe additional examinations, possibly a mammogram.

Question:After giving birth there was no milk. My son was already 2 years old when I was diagnosed with mastitis, it progressed to purulent, I went to the clinic where they cut me alive (I couldn’t go to the clinic because of the child). local anesthesia it didn’t work in the chest, then every day they washed and bandaged (drainage was inserted), took antibiotics and gave injections. 1.6 months have passed, I feel a lump on the same breast again, there is no temperature like the first time, I am in shock, what should I do? I won't survive this anymore.

Answer: You should see your doctor again. It is quite possible that this time everything will be fine, but it is better that you are seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

Question:Is it necessary to express milk after feeding? If you don’t do this, something will change and how it will affect the child.

Answer: After feeding, it is recommended to express milk to prevent lactation mastitis.

Question:Hello. I am 25 years old. I gave birth to a daughter on November 5 this year. Due to improper attachment to the breast, severe cracks have formed on both nipples. I apply Bepanthen and Avent cream to my skin. Before every feeding I wash my breasts, plus I regularly wear breast pads. Today my breasts started to hurt a lot when I lightly touched them, there are no lumps or lumps, I express regularly. Sometimes it starts to shiver. Tell me, is this mastitis? and where is the best place to go? Thanks in advance for your answer.

Answer: Based on the symptoms you describe, we can assume the onset of mastitis. Consult a mammologist or surgeon for advice.

Question:I have mastitis. First the left breast swelled, then a big boss when you touch it it hurts. No temperature yet. How to treat this, and is it possible without surgery?

Answer: Do you need urgent consultation surgeon doctor It is necessary to perform an ultrasound examination of the mammary gland; puncture of the compacted lesion may be necessary. If the diagnosis confirms the diagnosis of mastitis, then it is necessary to begin antibacterial therapy. The decision on the need for surgical intervention will be determined by the attending physician based on the dynamics of the process.

Question:A 20-year-old girl was diagnosed with fibrous mastopathy. Please give me a consultation. What to do, what to do?

Answer: Treatment under the supervision of a mammologist is necessary. You may need hormonal correction.

Question:I am 18 years old. In 2012, upon examination, a diagnosis of mastopathy of the right breast was made. Please tell me, is it possible to play sports, in particular, do chest exercises with mastopathy? Thanks in advance for your answer.

Answer: With mastopathy, there are no restrictions for playing sports (that do not injure breast tissue). All you need is regular monitoring of the condition of the mammary glands by a mammologist.

Question:I am 29 years old, one child, breastfed until 10 months. I finished breastfeeding in June, and before the New Year I discovered a lump in my breast, the size of a pea, right under the nipple. I contacted a gynecologist, she gave me a referral for an ultrasound, but it was only in February. Apart from breast cancer, nothing else pops into my head. What could it be?

Answer: This is not necessarily a cancerous (malignant) tumor. Most often in the areolar area (nipple area) occur cystic formations, benign fibroids. Therefore there is no reason to panic. It will be necessary to perform an ultrasound of this area. And for a 100% reliable determination of the structure of the compaction, it may be necessary to perform a biopsy and microscopic examination of the biopsy sample.

Question:Good afternoon. Please tell me how to cure mastitis and why it is dangerous? I saw a doctor. An incision was made on one breast, but there was no pus there. They prescribed antibiotics (Medocef) once a day and a compress (Dimexide) + Levomekol. Is this treatment correct? I've been undergoing treatment for a week now. Maybe you can tell me something. How to express and knead your breasts correctly?

Answer: If you have mastitis, breast massage is contraindicated. The treatment is prescribed adequately - you must follow the doctor's recommendations.

Question:Hello. The child is completely on guard. I recently got mastitis. I just called the doctor (gynecologist) and she diagnosed mastitis based on the symptoms. I was shivering, the temperature was 38. The skin around the nipple on only one side (a small area) was red, swollen and painful. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic (over the phone) and a glucose drip with ascorbic acid. I didn’t do all this, I just breastfed and that’s it. The next day there was no fever. And the redness subsides. This is already the third mastitis in four months. Tell me what should I do and should I take antibiotics? They also threaten me with mastopathy in the future. Is it so?

Answer: At the first sign of mastitis, there is no need to take an antibiotic. It is necessary to properly massage the painful area and express all the milk to the last drop after the child has eaten. Try to protect your breasts from drafts and empty them on time. If the temperature persists, purulent contents appear from the nipple and the lump is very painful, you should consult a surgeon.