Associated symptoms | Mastitis non puerperalis

Associated symptoms

Mastitis non puerperalis shows the classic signs of inflammation. The most prominent of these are overheating of the breast, which can be clearly felt when comparing the sides, and reddening of the inflamed areas. Pronounced swelling of the breast is also common, which can sometimes be painful.

In the inflamed area the breast may feel hardened and may be painful to touch. Pain in the area of the nipple may also indicate mastitis non puerperalis. In 50% of patients, there is also a swelling of lymph nodes in the armpit on the side of the inflamed breast. In contrast to mastitis puerperalis, mastitits non puerperalis rarely progresses with fever. Chills are also typical for mastitis during the breastfeeding period, but not for mastitis non puerperalis.

Treatment/Therapy

Besides a specific therapy, nicotine withdrawal during the inflammatory phase is one of the most important approaches to treatment. Cooling the wraps can be helpful against swelling and overheating, but excessive cooling should not be used to avoid circulatory reactions or local damage caused by the cold. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can be taken to relieve the pain, as they also have a positive effect on the inflammatory processes.

If the cause of mastitis non puerperalis is a bacterial infection, an antibiotic should be taken in addition to the anti-inflammatory measures. Either a combination of a cephalosporin and metronidazole or clindamycin is suitable for this. If the cause of the mastitis is an increased milk production without bacterial inflammation and no abscess is yet present, a dopamine agonist such as bromocriptine can be given for a few days, which will downregulate milk production and thus relieve the breast.

Many patients report that they are free of complaints after only 2-4 days.After completion of the therapy, a prophylactic mammography should be performed, since inflammatory breast cancer (inflammatory breast cancer) is one of the most important differential diagnoses. Particularly with local therapy, some home remedies can help to alleviate the symptoms. To cool the affected area, for example, quark compresses, compresses with natural honey or compresses with vinegar-acidified clay can be used.

A white cabbage leaf in a bra can also provide a pleasant cooling effect, and the leaves also act on a second level by helping to relieve congestion in the milk ducts, which in most cases is the cause of mastitis. Local application of hot water can also help to clear the milk ducts. Hot showers are therefore recommended as a home remedy against mastitis, as they also relieve pain.

In addition to local applications, home remedies can also have a positive influence on milk production. Drinking at least two cups of hibiscus, peppermint or sage tea a day can reduce milk production. In addition to these specific therapeutic approaches, it is essential during acute mastitis to get enough rest and sleep so that the body can activate its natural defenses in the best possible way.

Belladonna D6 can be taken in the first phase of the inflammation in the case of local pain and heat development. If no abscess formation is observed, Clematis recta D6 can be used in the course of the inflammation in swollen lymph nodes, which is indicated mainly in the subacute course. In the case of an abscess, hepar sulfuris D12 can cause faster wound healing of the open tissue after puncture and drainage.

Arnica as a universal wound healing agent may also have an effect on pain and swelling in the initial stage. An antibiotic should always be prescribed in case of bacterial mastitis. Depending on the antibiotic, it must be taken between 2-10 days. Below this time, in most cases, the mastitis non puerperalis heals quickly.