Forecast

The prognosis of mastitis depends mainly on the form present in the respective patient. In addition, the time of diagnosis and the initiation of therapy play a decisive role in this context. A mastitis that occurs in direct connection with breastfeeding a child usually has a good prognosis.

Especially mild forms of mastitis puerperalis heal completely in many cases without medical intervention. In addition, breast-related inflammation of the breast responds well to treatment with antibiotics in most patients. With early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy, the symptoms experienced by the affected patient will quickly recede, even in the case of pronounced forms of the disease.

However, the prognosis of mastitis worsens if an abscess has already developed within the mammary gland tissue. If an abscess has already formed in the affected patient, the attending physician must open and remove it during a small, outpatient surgical procedure. In these cases, the healing time of the mastitis is significantly longer.

If the abscess that develops in connection with inflammation of the breast is not opened properly, there is a risk that the abscess cavity will open spontaneously inwards and the bacterial pathogens will enter the bloodstream. Under certain circumstances this can lead to the development of blood poisoning (sepsis). The prognosis for mastitis worsens significantly in these cases.

A mastitis that occurs without connection to breastfeeding of a newborn child has a significantly worse prognosis than the classic mastitis puerperalis. The reason for this is the fact that in many cases non-puerperal mastitis tends to recur again and again (recurrent course of the disease). In this context it is essential for an assessment of the prognosis of mastitis to find the cause of the recurrent inflammatory processes. The prognosis can be significantly improved by targeted treatment of this cause and by eliminating possible risk factors.

Mastitis in men

Mastitis can also occur in men when the mechanical irritation or stressed skin on the breast becomes the entry point for bacteria. Abrasive clothing can be a sufficient trigger for this. But dry skin can also be a possible cause of mastitis in men. A doctor should be consulted at the beginning of the symptoms to prevent the inflammation from worsening and to treat it adequately at an early stage. If inflammations of this kind often return without a directly evaluable trigger, there may also be a serious cause behind it, such as certain hormonal disorders or metabolic diseases, which should be clarified by a doctor.

Causes

After an operation in the area of the breasts, an inflammation of the breast can occur. During the operation the skin is cut through so that germs can enter the tissue. This can lead to an inflammatory reaction.

Inflammation of the breast can also occur if the surgical wound is not adequately cared for and dressed after the operation. First of all, a sterile dressing is applied to the wound so that no germs can enter through the suture from the outside and the surgical site is protected as well as possible against contamination. If reddening, swelling and pain occurs on the operated breast, it must be assumed that it is inflamed and appropriate therapy must be initiated to avoid complications.

Milk congestion can present itself with similar symptoms to inflammation of the breast. Nevertheless, these are different clinical pictures which should not be confused. In case of milk congestion, the affected breast shows hardened and painful areas.

There may also be redness. However, the pain is usually less pronounced than in the case of mastitis. In addition, mastitis is often accompanied by fever and a general feeling of illness.

A pronounced milk congestion can eventually turn into mastitis. It is therefore important to distinguish well between the two clinical pictures and to initiate the appropriate therapy at an early stage. In contrast to mastitis, milk congestion does not yet require antibiotic treatment.

As a rule, the milk congestion subsides on its own within one to two days. The woman should try to stroke out the affected breast while breastfeeding and consciously continue to attach the baby to this breast. Breast inflammation is a typical complication of the postpartum period when the mother is breastfeeding her baby.

Inflammation of the breast is less common during pregnancy, but can also occur. Through small cracks in the skin, germs can penetrate into the breast and cause inflammation there. Especially during pregnancy, however, the production of secretions and milk in the mammary gland may already have been stimulated by the change in the hormone balance, so that these fluids can accumulate in the glandular ducts.

Since the mother is not yet breastfeeding, a milk congestion can develop, which can lead to an inflammation of the corresponding breast. However, inflammation of the breast during pregnancy can also have other causes, for example a hormone imbalance due to stress, medication or other previous illnesses. It is therefore always important to seek medical clarification of the cause of the inflammation of the breast so that the appropriate individual therapy can be initiated.

This topic may also be of interest to you: Breast pain during pregnancyMastitis puerperalis is a frequent complication in mothers, which can be caused by various factors. As the breast tissue changes during pregnancy due to hormonal influences, the female breast becomes capable of supplying the baby with milk after birth. If there is a congestion of milk in the breast due to obstruction of the drainage, it can become inflamed, which manifests itself by swelling, redness, sensitivity to touch and pain.

In order to prevent this complication during breastfeeding, it is particularly important to empty the breast regularly and to carefully smooth out congested areas with the hands so that the milk can drain away there as well. Another cause of mastitis during breastfeeding can be mechanical stress from the baby’s mouth. Since the sucking reflex causes tiny cracks to appear in the skin of the breast, bacteria can sometimes infiltrate the damaged skin, which can then become inflamed.

Nipple inflammation is a subform of mastitis, which can have different causes. The entry of germs into the skin of the nipple can lead to inflammation. In the same way, however, non-bacterial nipple inflammation is also possible, which in the worst case can be a symptom of a malignant event.

Far more common, however, is the cause of mechanical stress, for example, due to breastfeeding. Due to non-sterile conditions before, during or after the performance of a breast piercing, bacteria can also get into the pierced skin. This can cause an inflammatory process to develop, which, as with mastitis of other causes, can manifest itself through pain, redness, pus, swelling and sensitivity to touch. If an inflammation is caused by a breast piercing, the piercing has to be removed and the wound area has to be treated antibacterially. Antibiotics or in extensive cases the insertion of a flap for daily rinsing of the inflamed area can become necessary.