Mastitis

Inflammatory process which is localized in a mammary gland is called mastitis. The disease most often occurs at women at the age of 15-45 years. At early age mastitis is caused by strengthening krovo-and lymphokineses whereas in the predmenopauzny period hormonal disturbances.

Quite often the inflammation occurs at nursing mothers, especially in the first three months after the child's birth. In this case speak about a milk fever. The disease is not a prerogative only at women of childbearing age, inflammatory process can develop both at men, and at newborns. In this case fibrous and cystous mastitis is meant.

Mastitis origins

As well as at any inflammation, penetration in chest gland of causative organisms is the reason of mastitis. It can occur as from the outside, for example, at damages of integuments in the field of chest gland, and from within when in an organism there are centers of persistent infection, like tonsillitis, carious cavities, diseases of the sexual sphere. At the feeding women most often inflammatory process develops in response to stagnation of milk, obstruction of channels or existence of cracks on nipples. Residual effect of maternal sex hormones is the reason of development of mastitis in newborns.

Mastitis symptoms

On the nature of inflammatory process distinguish several stages of mastitis:

- serous.

- infiltrative.

- purulent.

- abscessing.

- phlegmonous.

- gangrenous.

The first three stages are interconnected among themselves, exactly in such sequence the suppurative focus forms. Further development of mastitis in three directions is possible: or abscess at which the suppurative focus is limited, or phlegmon when the inflammation takes all mammary gland is formed, or there is a necrosis (dying off) of fabrics.

Symptoms of mastitis depend on in what stage there is a disease. Right at the beginning at patients sharp rise in temperature is noted, there is a fever and weakness, sweat begins to be emitted plentifully. Chest gland increases in volume, becomes dense, sharp pain of arching character develops, over the place of an inflammation the surface of skin gets a reddish shade. At a milk fever signs of an inflammation arise against the background of reduction of amount of the produced milk. At the feeding women cracks on nipples in most cases are observed, through them the infection gets in a mammary gland.

In the absence of treatment of mastitis or its wrong carrying out the condition of the patient sharply worsens. Against the background of high temperature erubescence over the inflammation center amplifies, at palpation the site of defeat accurately is defined. Upon transition to a phlegmonous stage the mammary gland sharply increases in volume, skin gets a cyanotic shade. Inflammatory process takes the lymph nodes which are near a sore breast. At a gangrenous stage of mastitis bubbles with bloody contents join the symptoms stated above and sites where fabrics nekrotizirutsya (die off). Hypostasis, in addition to a mammary gland, extends also to nearby fabrics.

Mastitis can be complicated by development of sepsis when causative organisms get into a circulatory bed. Distribution of inflammatory process on lymph nodes is also possible, in this case speak about lymphadenitis, and absorbent vessels, the lymphangitis develops. At spontaneous opening of an abscess on this place it is formed it is long not healing fistula.

Treatment of mastitis

In view of disease severity and a possible failure, it is necessary to take treatment of mastitis seriously. In order to avoid complications at mastitis it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate. In most cases the used means do not remove the cause of mastitis, and it leads to the fact that inflammatory process develops further, threatening with more serious effects.

As a rule, treatment of mastitis consists in prescription of antibiotics, infusional drugs and immunoglobulins. Such therapy allows to lower the phenomena of intoxication and to increase the general body resistance. At a milk fever the means suppressing a lactation are applied to decrease in amount of the produced milk.

Purulent forms of mastitis are the direct indication to an operative measure.

Folk remedies for treatment of mastitis

In nonconventional medicine there are many recipes which purpose is elimination of the centers of an inflammation in a mammary gland. But folk remedies of treatment at mastitis have to be used only in a complex with the therapy appointed by the doctor. At initial stages it is possible to put the sheets of cabbage, coltsfoot, burdock scalded by boiled water to the place of defeat. Quite good effect flat cakes from flour and honey have. Will help to lower a lactation tea from a sage medicinal or infusion of mix from inflorescences of hop, leaves of walnut and a sage.

Prevention of mastitis

For nursing mothers the main measures of prevention of mastitis are hygienic care of mammary glands and the organization of the correct mode of feedings. It is necessary to watch that the mammary gland was completely emptied. For prevention at mastitis of emergence of cracks of the child it is necessary to accustom from the first feeding to the correct capture of a nipple.

Also timely improvement of the chronic centers of an infection, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the organization of healthy nutrition, immunity maintenance up to standard, protection of chest glands against injuries and hygienic procedures belong to preventive measures at mastitis.