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 Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

43sec

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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.

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Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

42sec

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Can acute mastitis be treated by stopping lactation?

It is not recommended to stop lactation during acute mastitis. Because breast milk is the best culture medium, bacteria have already caused local inflammatory invasion. If lactation is stopped at this time, the milk will accumulate in the milk ducts, leading to a large invasion of bacteria, which can eventually cause cellulitis. If untreated, it may lead to an abscess and then septicemia. Generally, for acute mastitis, breastfeeding is stopped, local heat application is necessary, and then a lactation masseuse or family member should be found to completely empty the residual milk, which needs to be done daily. Then, the use of antibiotics can achieve the purpose of 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

42sec

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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.

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Written by Cui Yu Rong

Breast Surgery

59sec

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Acute mastitis lactation method

One very important cause of acute mastitis is the stagnation of milk, so it is essential to maintain the flow of breast milk after the onset of mastitis. Therefore, it is generally recommended to continue breastfeeding. Before and after breastfeeding, wash the nipples and the baby's mouth to keep the nipple and areola area clean. During breastfeeding, try to empty the breast as much as possible, and after breastfeeding, you can apply heat, massage, and express any remaining milk by pressing from the surrounding area towards the nipple. You can also use a breast pump to extract the remaining milk, which can help prevent infection. However, some cases of mastitis may not be relieved by these methods and may still require further treatment at a regular hospital.