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Acute mastitis
Which department should I go to for acute mastitis?
For acute mastitis, one should first consult the Department of Mammary Surgery or Thyro-Mammary Surgery. When some hospitals lack a specialized breast surgery department, patients typically consult the general surgery department or gynecology department. If it is during the night or none of the specialized departments are available, then the emergency surgery department should be consulted. Thus, there are multiple relevant departments for acute mastitis. In larger hospitals with specialized departments, one can directly consult the Department of Mammary Surgery or Thyro-Mammary Surgery. During off-hours, nights, weekends, or other emergency periods, it is appropriate to consult the emergency surgery department.
What should I do if acute mastitis bursts?
An acute breast abscess has ruptured, and it should be treated in a formal hospital setting. Under general anesthesia through intravenous administration, the abscess area should be expanded to the normal tissue via an incision. Then, using color ultrasound for abscess localization, to avoid damaging the milk ducts and prevent fistula formation, the incision should follow the direction of the milk ducts, extending radially towards the areola. If there are multiple abscess cavities, the partitions between the cavities should be opened with a finger. If necessary, multiple incisions should be made, or successive operations for drainage of the abscess cavities might be required. Latex sheets or drainage tubes may be used.
Acute mastitis infusion for several days
Acute mastitis usually does not require intravenous fluids unless there is an accompanying fever, a significant increase in white blood cells, and obvious local redness, swelling, and pain in the breast. At this time, intravenous antibiotic therapy can be considered, generally for five to seven days, but once the white blood cells normalize and the local acute swelling subsides, consideration can be given to stopping the treatment. Of course, when acute mastitis is complicated by an abscess, the abscess requires separate treatment, usually by a specialist making a small incision or using a thick syringe needle to repeatedly aspirate the pus; the best method is certainly to aspirate the pus through a small incision. In such cases, the duration of intravenous fluid use may be appropriately increased.
How many days does it take for the fever from acute mastitis to go away?
The fever associated with acute mastitis can subside within a few days, but it needs to be evaluated through ultrasound and a complete blood count; these tests can be performed in the breast department of a standard hospital. If the blood count exceeds 10,000, temporary fever reduction is possible, but inflammation can cause fever to recur. In such cases, local warm and moist compresses are recommended, and injections of saline combined with penicillin can be administered to help reduce inflammation. Systemic antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins can be used. Since antibiotics can be secreted into breast milk and affect infants, the use of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfa drugs, and metronidazole should be avoided. After three days of intravenous treatment, a follow-up complete blood count should be conducted to determine whether anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment should be discontinued.
Does acute mastitis require milk dredging?
During acute mastitis, it is necessary to apply local heat and then clear the milk ducts by stroking them to drain excess milk. If milk stasis occurs in the ducts, it can aggravate inflammation and, in severe cases, lead to the formation of a breast abscess. Once a breast abscess forms, it requires incision and drainage, so it is essential to completely drain any residual milk during acute mastitis. For acute pancreatitis, prevention is more important than treatment. The specific methods include maintaining nipple cleanliness during breastfeeding, frequently washing the nipples with warm soapy water, developing good breastfeeding habits, breastfeeding regularly, ensuring that the milk is fully drawn each time, and if not, either manually expressing or using a breast pump. Additionally, avoid letting the baby sleep with the nipple in their mouth.
Methods for reducing swelling in acute mastitis
Methods for reducing swelling in acute mastitis: First, determine whether the acute mastitis is caused by milk stasis or by bacterial invasion and decreased immune resistance. If it is simply due to milk stasis, nursing can still be continued if the symptoms are mild and the lesion is not severe. However, the affected breast should not be used for nursing, and a breast pump can be used to extract the milk. If the condition is caused by bacteria, it is recommended to apply local moist heat. Penicillin and other saline can be injected around the inflammation. Systemic antibiotics, such as penicillin or cephalosporins, can be used. However, since antibiotics can be secreted into the milk and affect the infant, the use of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and sulfa drugs should be avoided.
What medication is used for acute mastitis?
Acute mastitis typically requires three types of medications: topical medications, oral medications, and intravenous medications. Topical medications, also known as local medications, are mainly used to reduce swelling, such as 33% to 50% magnesium sulfate or traditional Chinese medicine topical applications made in Chinese medicine hospitals. Oral medications generally consist primarily of antibiotics, focusing on cephalosporins and erythromycin. Intravenous medications are used when acute mastitis is more severe and oral antibiotics are ineffective, requiring intravenous antibiotic infusions. It is crucial not to purchase medications arbitrarily at pharmacies but to follow the recommendations of a doctor.
Which part of the body is moxibustion applied to for acute mastitis?
In cases of acute mastitis, it is recommended to promptly visit a formal hospital and receive timely treatment under the guidance of a doctor. Under the doctor's guidance, treatment should be administered through medication. If mastitis is not treated promptly, it can easily lead to a worsening of the condition and the formation of breast abscesses, which not only prolongs the treatment period but in severe cases, may also require surgery. Moxibustion is a slow treatment method, so it is crucial to treat acute symptoms promptly with medication. However, moxibustion can be performed on acupoints such as Tanzhong and Rugen to achieve effective regulation.
Can acute mastitis be treated with hot compresses?
Acute mastitis can be treated with hot compresses, which can reduce local pain, dilate the milk ducts, and facilitate the expulsion of milk. To completely cure mastitis, it is essential to visit a hospital for examination. Under a doctor's guidance, taking antibacterial drugs for anti-infection treatment is recommended. For women who are breastfeeding, the priority in treating mastitis is to empty the breast milk first; thereafter, taking antibacterial drugs for anti-infection treatment is advisable. For severe cases of mastitis, it may be necessary to perform puncture aspiration or incision and drainage to achieve optimal treatment results. Patients with mastitis should pay attention to their diet and eat lightly in daily life, avoiding particularly greasy foods. It is advisable to eat light meals, vegetables, and fruits.
What department should I go to for acute mastitis?
What department to see for acute mastitis is a very common question. Acute mastitis often refers to the inflammation of the mammary glands during breastfeeding or pregnancy. Of course, this also includes breast injuries from physical trauma or parasites. Early-stage acute mastitis can manifest changes such as mild local pain and swelling, and possibly fever without other significant symptoms. Therefore, the early stage of acute mastitis can be quite confusing. In fact, one should visit the Breast Surgery department, Thyroid Breast Surgery, or Breast Thyroid Surgery department in major hospitals. If these specialties are not available, it is advisable to consult a doctor who has received advanced training in relevant fields at higher-level hospitals, typically a general surgery or gynecology specialist.