Mastitis Postpartum

Postpartum mastitis ***Postpartum mastitis*** (*lat., m. Puerperalicus*) is an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland during lactation, developing as a result of a violation of the outflow of milk or the entry of its contents into the ducts of the mammary gland through the birth canal. The cause of postpartum mastitis can be intensive breast sucking by the child, traumatization and violation of the integrity of the breast structure, friction of the breast on underwear, local cooling, decreased body resistance, purulent-inflammatory diseases of other organs and systems, and

Postpartum mastitis

**Postpartum mastitis (puerperal fever)** is an inflammatory disease of the mammary glands that occurs after childbirth and is characterized by the appearance of pain in the mammary gland, soreness, tension, redness of the skin, and the presence of pathological discharge from the mammary gland. The main causes of mastitis

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland that can occur during lactation or immediately after childbirth. It is a common problem among women and can lead to serious complications. In this article we will look at the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of postpartum mastitis.

Causes of postpartum mastitis

The main cause of mastitis is an infection in the breast. This can be caused by bacteria that enter the breast through cracks or cuts in the nipples, or through sores and sores in the skin around the breast. Also, the risk of inflammation increases with cracked nipples or poorly defined breasts that are easily stretched. Other risk factors include poor feeding, wearing uncomfortable underwear, prolonged lactation, advanced age and poor hygiene.

Symptoms of mastitis

The first signs of mastitis are swelling and pain in the breasts, which women may feel after just a few days.

Mastitis after childbirth

Postpartum mastitis is a disease that occurs as a result of infection of the wound surface of the mammary gland or nearby areas of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Statistics say that up to 3% of young mothers experience mastitis. Primiparas are more often affected than multiparas. The peak incidence occurs in the first 2-4 days after birth. In 95-97% of cases, mastitis is observed in the right mammary gland, since it is always larger in volume and more functional. Among the complications if you do not seek medical help in a timely manner, purulent mastitis (galactic gangrene) may occur, requiring emergency surgical intervention.

What is mastitis?

The causative agents of purulent and non-purulent processes can be staphylococci, streptococci and Escherichia coli. Inflammation begins due to damage to the lochia as a result of exposure to cold, friction, the use of compresses and other traumatic factors. The breakdown of tissue leads to a dilution of local immunity and its reduced resistance to microbes. Under favorable conditions, opportunistic microflora enters the tissue, leading to an inflammatory process.

When palpating the mammary glands, a small ball can be detected. It occurs due to the formation of a cavity filled with exudate, exudate of only 5 ml. Early diagnosis using ultrasound is extremely important, allowing one to see the accumulation of pathological contents in the fibrocystic duct and surrounding tissues. An ultrasound examination does not provide a 100% guarantee, but it can significantly reduce the period of observation of the patient. Since the presence of serous fluid in the cyst is detected, and the diagnosis is not specified, a repeat ultrasound is required within 2 days. After this, antibacterial therapy is carried out to help reduce the activity of inflammation. As soon as its manifestations disappear, they switch to nonspecific treatment.

Postpartum mastitis is a pathological condition of the breast that occurs when the immune system in women is disrupted or when breast care rules are not followed. This disease is one of the most common complications of breastfeeding and can cause serious health consequences for mother and baby.

Postpartum chest pain In order to avoid the development of the disease, it is necessary to properly care for the breasts after childbirth. One of the main mistakes women make after giving birth is bandaging their breasts after feeding. Improper use of bras can cause breast inflammation from milk residues. Many women in labor may deny the fact that they bandaged their breasts after feeding, even if they later had to consult a doctor with a complaint of stagnation of milk in the breast. When feeding was done by the hour, that is, the baby ate every three hours, and the next baby was half an hour later, mothers could relax and not bandage their breasts. The breasts begin to “complain” already when the woman notices milk in the pads or a slightly swollen state of one half. At that moment, the woman should immediately go to the mammologist and everything will be fine. But if a woman tightens her breasts, then blood circulation in her is disrupted, which causes stagnation and this can lead to the development of mastitis. The doctor prescribes medications that reduce the amount of lactation, through drug therapy, creating optimal conditions for the baby to latch on. After such measures, all conditions are created and the risks of developing mastitis are reduced. An ultrasound of the mammary glands will also be prescribed to see what changes there are in the structure of the mammary glands. Doctors carry out prevention in the form of personal hygiene. The woman herself then monitors at home how clean her hands and pacifier are before feeding the baby. Identifying mastitis during pregnancy and breastfeeding is extremely important. This is what helps doctors prescribe rational treatment and identify complications. If mastitis is not treated or treated incorrectly, it can become chronic or lead to breast cancer.