Mastitis non-puerperalis

Mastitis non puerperalis is an acute inflammation of the female mammary gland that can have both bacterial and bacterial causes. In contrast to mastitis puerperalis, mastitis non puerperalis develops independently of pregnancy and puerperium. Mastitis non puerperalis accounts for up to 50 percent of all breast infections.

The most common pathogens of the bacterial form of mastitis non puerperalis Staphylococci. This form of mastitis is favoured by various diseases that facilitate the passage of the bacterial pathogens into the mammary gland tissue. For example, the spontaneous leakage of breast milk from the mammary gland tissue (galactorrhoea) plays a special role in the development of mastitis.

The abacterial form of mastitis non puerperalis is in most cases caused by hormonal, drug or stress-related hyperprolactinemia. In the course of this disease, the affected women experience an increasing secretion of the glandular endings and an associated milk congestion. The mammary gland tissue reacts to this milk congestion with a reflex dilatation of the milk ducts (ductectasia), which in turn can lead to the milk escaping into the surrounding tissue.

This is ultimately a stimulus for the organism which can cause inflammatory processes. Basically, this form of mastitis is a classic foreign body reaction. There are specific risk factors associated with the occurrence of mastitis, including smoking, expired lactation and glandular tissue injury.

The symptoms of mastitis non puerperalis typically correspond to the symptoms of any inflammatory process. In affected women, a distinct reddening of the breast surface can be observed after a short time. In addition, the inflammatory processes taking place inside the mammary gland tissue cause the affected breast to overheat.

Furthermore, women suffering from mastitis non puerperalis notice a progressive swelling in the area of the affected breast. Palpation of the mammary glands usually reveals a diffuse, coarse infiltrate. Depending on the severity of the inflammation of the mammary gland, pain of varying intensity may occur.

Since mastitis non puerperalis is often an acute infection, in about 50 percent of cases there is also a swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpits on the affected side of the body. In contrast to mastitis puerperalis, however, patients often do not suffer from pronounced general symptoms (such as fever and chills). This most common form of mastitis usually develops about 2 weeks after birth through the immigration of bacteria (mostly staphylococci) from the baby’s mouth into the breast.

The entry point for the bacteria is small cracks on the nipples or the milk ducts themselves. In addition to the symptoms of mastitis (mastitis non- puerperalis) such as redness, heat and painful swelling of the breast, there is also a massive limitation of the general condition with fever. In most cases, clear changes in breast milk can be detected.

These changes are mainly caused by the disturbance of the breast gland secretion. In the presence of a mastitis, certain cells in breast milk can be detected in increased numbers. In the case of infection-related forms of mastitis, the lymph nodes surrounding the breast are usually also involved. In most patients, these are enlarged and painful under pressure. Due to the pain caused by the inflammation, breastfeeding is usually massively restricted or even impossible for the affected mothers.