The causes of acute mastitis include

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on September 01, 2024
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The causes of mastitis are firstly bacterial invasion and secondly the accumulation of milk. The accumulation of milk mainly occurs during breastfeeding, due to the position of holding the child or unintentional bumps by the child, which cause damage to the milk ducts, constriction of the ducts, leading to a large amount of milk being trapped inside the ducts. Since milk is an excellent culture medium, it results in bacterial growth. Bacterial invasion usually occurs through cracked or fissured nipples, allowing bacteria to enter the milk ducts and into the breast tissue, causing mastitis. Another situation is a decrease in the body's immune system, for example, due to poor sleep or emotional stress. These are the main causes of acute mastitis.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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How should acute mastitis be treated?

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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Breast Surgery
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What fruits to eat for acute mastitis?

For mastitis, it is primarily important to avoid spicy and stimulating foods, seafood, and lactation-promoting foods. Foods high in fat and sugar, spicy fried foods, and stimulant drinks like liquor and coffee should be avoided. If blood sugar levels are high, certain fruits high in sugar content should also be avoided. For those without diabetes, the issue is simpler; for example, consuming more tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes, is advisable. The principle is to eat light and nutritious foods. Therefore, tomatoes, green vegetables, loofah, cucumbers, crown daisy, lotus root, and mung bean soup are good options. This also includes oranges, strawberries, apples, grapes, and kiwifruits which are suitable choices.

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Breast Surgery
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Is hot compress effective for acute mastitis?

An important factor in acute mastitis is the accumulation of milk during breastfeeding, which leads to mastitis. Applying heat can be somewhat effective, as it helps to unblock the milk, thus further alleviating and controlling the symptoms of mastitis. However, heat application is mainly used in the initial stage of mastitis. If the condition progresses further, with more apparent systemic symptoms or pus formation, then heat application is not very effective. Further anti-infection treatment and, if necessary, incision and drainage surgery are needed to control the condition.

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Breast Surgery
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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.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie
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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.