What should I do if acute mastitis does not subside with fever?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on May 08, 2025
00:00
00:00

We can go to a formal hospital's breast department for routine blood tests and ultrasound examinations. If the blood count exceeds ten thousand, with increased neutrophils and a left shift in the nucleus indicating severe inflammation, we can apply local moist heat. Around the inflammation, penicillin and saline can be injected to promote the resolution of the inflammation. Systemically, antibiotics can be used, including penicillin, cephalosporins, or erythromycin. Since antibiotics can be secreted into breast milk and affect the baby, it is advisable to avoid using tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and metronidazole. The duration of antibiotic use should be determined based on the condition, which requires regular re-examination of the blood routine and breast ultrasound.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
43sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
57sec home-news-image

Can you breastfeed with a fever from acute mastitis?

For acute mastitis with fever, it is generally recommended to stop breastfeeding. For mild symptoms and less severe cases, breastfeeding is possible. However, do not breastfeed from the breast that is affected with redness, swelling, heat, and pain; instead, use a breast pump to extract the milk. For more severe symptoms or if an abscess has formed, breastfeeding must be discontinued. Further, a breast ultrasound should be performed to determine whether the issue is cystic or inflammatory. A complete blood count is also recommended to view the extent of the infection. If the count exceeds 10,000, intravenous antibiotics are necessary, and topical Levofloxacin can be applied locally. If the count is below 10,000, oral anti-inflammatory medications can be taken to treat the symptoms. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Yu Rong
Breast Surgery
59sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
54sec home-news-image

What should I do if acute mastitis does not subside with fever?

We can go to a formal hospital's breast department for routine blood tests and ultrasound examinations. If the blood count exceeds ten thousand, with increased neutrophils and a left shift in the nucleus indicating severe inflammation, we can apply local moist heat. Around the inflammation, penicillin and saline can be injected to promote the resolution of the inflammation. Systemically, antibiotics can be used, including penicillin, cephalosporins, or erythromycin. Since antibiotics can be secreted into breast milk and affect the baby, it is advisable to avoid using tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and metronidazole. The duration of antibiotic use should be determined based on the condition, which requires regular re-examination of the blood routine and breast ultrasound.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
51sec home-news-image

Treatment methods for acute mastitis

The treatment methods for acute mastitis start with stopping breastfeeding. For those with mild symptoms or less severe conditions, breastfeeding can continue, but it is not advisable to breastfeed from the affected breast. Instead, a breast pump can be used to express the milk. Secondly, the breast can be supported with a bra. Thirdly, for local redness and swelling, hot compresses can be applied, or ichthyol ointment can be used topically, as well as Levonorgestrel topical application. If blood tests show elevated levels, systemic antibiotics should be used, with the choice of penicillins and cephalosporins for symptomatic treatment. If an ultrasound shows an abscess formation, it is recommended to perform an abscess incision and drainage procedure, or, if it's deeper, a thick needle can be used for aspiration to draw out the abscess.