MASTITIS

Mastitis is an infection of the breast. It usually only occurs in women who are breastfeeding their babies, although in rare circumstances this condition can occur outside of lactation.
Often, mastitis occurs within the first six weeks after birth (postpartum), but it can happen later during breast-feeding. The condition can leave you feeling exhausted and rundown, making it difficult to care for your baby.

Types-
1. Puerperal mastitis
Puerperal mastitis is the inflammation of breast in connection with pregnancy, breastfeeding or weaning. It is caused by blocked milk ducts or milk excess. It is relatively common, estimates range depending on methodology between 5-33%. However only about 0.4-0.5% of breastfeeding mothers develop an abscess.
2. Nonpuerperal mastitis
The term nonpuerperal mastitis describes inflammatory lesions of the breast occurring unrelated to pregnancy and breastfeeding. This article includes description of mastitis as well as various kinds of mammary abscesses. Skin related conditions like dermatitis and foliculitis are a separate entity.
Names for non-puerperal mastitis are not used very consistently and include Mastitis, Subareolar Abscess, Duct Ectasia, Periductal Inflammation, Zuska's Disease and others.

Causes-
Mastitis occurs when bacteria enter your breast through a break or crack in the skin of your nipple or through the opening to the milk ducts in your nipple. Bacteria from your skin's surface and baby's mouth enter the milk duct and can multiply - leading to pain, redness and swelling of the breast as infection progresses.

Symptoms-
1.Swelling of breast.
2.Pain in the breast continuously or while feeding.
3.Tenderness of breast.
4.Warm to touch
5.Skin redness often in a wedge shaped pattern.
6.Fever
7.General malaise.

Risk factors-

Sore or cracked nipples, although mastitis can develop without broken skin.
A previous bout of mastitis while breast-feeding
Using only one position to breast-feed, which may not fully drain the breast.
Wearing a tight fitting bra, this may restrict milk flow.

Diagnosis
1.Medical history
2.Physical examination.

Complication-
1.Reoccurrence
2.Milk stasis
3.Breast abscess if it not treated properly.

Treatment-
If it is diagnosed early, mastitis is easy and quick to treat with the help of medicines.
Other helping factors-
Make sure your baby is latched on properly at the breast and feeding well.

>>Try different feeding positions if they help baby to latch on better.

>>To keep the affected breast well drained, breastfeed as often as baby wants to.

>>Express milk by hand or with a pump, after feeds, if mother feels that baby has not used the breast well.

>>Some mothers find a breast pump removes milk better than their baby, particularly if they also have sore nipples.

>>If mother feels ill, rest as much as you can.

>>Apply warmth to the affected area, such as a flannel or compress, or have a warm bath or shower. Some mothers find that cold compresses work better.

>>Gently massage the breast while feeding baby. Vigorous massage can actually make mastitis worse by pushing the "leaked" milk further into the breast tissue.

Role of Homoeopathy
Homoeopathic medicine - there are many medicines in homoeopathy to control the growth of bacteria by improving the natural healing processes of a person. The recurrent nature of mastitis can also be avoided with the help of homeopathic medicines.

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