What is breast abscess?

Breast Abscess: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Breast abscess is an inflammatory condition characterized by the formation of pus in the breast tissue, commonly found in women, especially those who are breastfeeding.

This disease not only causes pain but also affects the quality of life, even leaving serious consequences if not treated promptly.

Understanding the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention methods will help women protect their breast health in the best way.

Causes of breast abscess

Breast abscesses form due to prolonged inflammation in the breast tissue, usually associated with bacteria entering and growing in the milk ducts or breast tissue.

Some common causes lead to this pathology include:

1. Bacterial infection

Bacteria staphylococcus (Staphylococcus aureus), streptococci, and certain types of anaerobic bacteria are the main cause of abscess of the mammary gland. They can penetrate through small cracks in the nipples or from milk ducts clogged.

2. Clogged milk ducts

In breastfeeding women, milk can become stagnant in the mammary glands if the baby does not finish feeding or the mother does not express milk regularly. This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow, causing inflammation and leading to an abscess.

3. Mastitis is not treated properly

Mastitis if not treated or treatment is not thorough may progress to abscess formation, pus in the breast tissue.

4. The other risk factors

People who have weakened immune systems, diabetes, smoking, or a history of abscess of the mammary gland before that will have a higher risk of recurrence with this condition.

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Symptoms get to know abscess of the mammary gland

Abscess of the mammary gland often have the explicit expression that can be recognized through the following symptoms:

• The breast swelling, redness, soreness intense: This is the first sign of abscess of the mammary gland. Patients feel big news, hot flashes and pain constantly.
• Tumor appearance soft: When touch the breast can feel a tumor is soft, can be portable, light touch causes pain.
• Discharge or purulent discharge: In some cases, the abscess may burst and discharge pus yellow or green, foul-smelling.
• High fever, body tired: Due to the body's response to infection, the patient may be high fever above 38.5°C, accompanied by feeling of chills, fatigue.
• The skin of the breast is sores: If untreated, the abscess can spread, causing the skin of the breast is sores, gangrene.

Diagnosis of abscess of the mammary gland

The diagnosis of abscess of the mammary glands need to make soon to be methods timely treatment and avoid serious complications.

Doctors usually based on the clinical signs associated with these methods-clinical to determine the exact condition.

• Clinical examination: The doctor will check for swelling, redness, soreness in the breast, locate the abscess and extent of the lesion. In addition, the doctor may ask about a history of mastitis, engorgement or the accompanying symptoms, such as fever and chills.
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands: This is a common method to help determine the size, location and characteristics of abscesses. Ultrasound images may indicate the presence of the pus and the extent of the lesion.

• Aspiration needle small: The doctor will use a small needle, fisting, aspirate from the abscess to test for bacteria, thereby determining the cause of the disease and choice of antibiotic is suitable.
• Blood tests: Check the number of leukocytes and index, CRP (C-reactive protein) to help assess the level of inflammation in the body, aid in diagnosis and tracking disease progression.

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Method of treatment of abscess of the mammary gland

Depending on the degree of progression of the disease, the doctor can specify the treatments accordingly. Treatment of abscess of the mammary gland, including medication, draining the pus, and supportive care.

1. Medical therapy

• Antibiotics: For early stage breast abscess, when the inflammation is not too serious, doctors often prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics or specific antibiotics based on bacterial culture results. Commonly used antibiotic groups include: Cephalosporin, Clindamycin or Penicillin group.

• Analgesic, anti-inflammatory: Combined with painkillers, such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen to help reduce symptoms of pain, aching, swelling, inflammation in the breast.

2. Drain the pus

• Aspiration of pus: For small abscesses, the doctor may use tiny needles to aspiration of pus under the guidance of ultrasound. This method is less invasive and can be performed multiple times if necessary.
• Incision and drain: If abscesses or that have been broken, the doctor will proceed skin incision to remove the entire translation pus, then put the drain in order to avoid relapse. In some severe cases, patients may need surgery to remove the abscess thoroughly.

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3. Supportive care

• Cold compresses: Help reduce swelling, inflammation and pain relief effect. Can perform 10-15 minutes each time, repeat a few times during the day.
• Sucking milk properly: If mom is breastfeeding, maintaining the flow of milk is very important. Can use a breast pump or posture correction breast to help your baby to breastfeeding more effective, to avoid stagnant milk.
• Hygiene and the breast: Always keep the nipple clean, especially the area of the areola and nipples, to limit the risk of bacterial contamination.

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Complications if not treated promptly

Abscess of the mammary glands if not treated early can cause many serious complications, affect the health and aesthetics of women.

• Sepsis: Bacteria from the abscess can enter the bloodstream, causing infection of the whole body. This is dangerous complications, can be life-threatening if it is not emergency in a timely manner.
• Abscess recurrence: If treatment is not thorough, abscesses can recur many times, leads to lesions of the breast tissue and cause pain lasts.
• Necrosis of breast tissue: Large abscesses or so long without treatment can do partial necrosis breast tissue, causing distortion, loss of aesthetics and affect the milk.

Prevention of abscess of the mammary gland

Prevention is always the best solution to protect health and avoid unwanted complications. To prevent breast abscess, women should take the following measures:

1. Keep the chest area clean: Especially important for women after birth and are breastfeeding. Need to wash your hands before touching the breasts and hygiene first time frequently with warm water.
2. Breastfeeding the right way: Ensure that the baby properly hydrated joints sucking dick and fucking in a sufficient amount of milk needed and change positions breastfeeding to help your milk glands to function better. If your baby does not go away, you should use breast pumps to avoid stagnant.
3. Avoid injuries of the breast: Strong impact or pinched breasts can hurt the breast tissue, creating the conditions for bacterial infiltration and abscess formation.
4. Enhance resistance: A diet healthy, rich in vitamins and minerals helps enhance the immune system, reduce the risk of infection. Women should supplement more foods rich in protein, iron, and drink enough water every day.

Conclusion

Abscess of the mammary gland is a pathology can not be taken lightly, especially for women after birth. Early detection and timely treatment not only helps relieve pain but also to prevent dangerous complications.

If there are any signs such as breast tenderness, high fever, or tumor appearance, soft, unusual, go to the medical facility for examination and treatment. Health protection, a ring of protection is the quality of your life.

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The article refer to the following document: 

• Bharat, A., Gao, F., Aft, R., Gillanders, W. E., Eberlein, T. J., & Margenthaler, J. A. (2009). Predictors of primary breast abscesses and recurrence. World Journal of Surgery, 33(12), 2582-2586.
• Abim, A. C. M. M. F. F. D. (n.d.). Breast Abscesses and Masses: Background, pathophysiology, Epidemiology.