Mastitis

Mastitis can occur either with or without infection•. It the inflammation occurs without infection.
If the inflammation occurs without infection, it is usually caused by milk stasis.Milk stasis is the buildup of milk within the breast tissue of lactating women. However, inflammation caused by milk stasis typically progresses to inflammation with infection. This is because the stagnant milk provides an environment in which bacteria can grow. Mastitis caused by an infection is the most common form. Sometimes, a break in the skin or nipple can develop. Bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus, enter this break and infect the breast tissue.To fight the infection, the body releases a host of chemicals, which cause inflammation.
Symptoms –

Sign and symptoms of mastitis can appear suddenly. They may include-
• Breast tenderness or warmth to the touch
• Pain or a burning sensation continuously or while breast feeding
• Fever of 101°F or greater
• Breast swelling
• Skin redness, often in a wedge shaped pattern
• Thickening of breast tissue, or a breast lump
• General feeling of being ill
• A small cut or wound in the nipple or on the skin of the breast
Causes-

• Bacterial infection-
Bacteria are normally found on the skin. Everyone has them, and they are normally harmless.But if bacteria are able to breakthrough the skin, they can cause an infection. If bacteria enter the breast tissue, due to a break in the skin near or around the nipple, they may cause mastitis.
• Obstruction of a milkduct-

Milk ducts carry milk from the breast glands to the nipple. When these ducts are blocked, milk builds up within the breast and causes inflammation and may result in infection.
Risk factors-
• Breast feeding for the first few weeks after child birth
• Using only one position to breast feed
• Sore or cracked nipples
• Wearing a tight fitting bra
• Previous episodes of mastitis
• Extreme tiredness or fatigue
In these situations, you are at risk of a milk buildup within one or both breasts,or at risk of infection of the breast tissue
Complications-
Mastitis that is not adequately treated or that is due to a blocked duct can cause a collection of pus to develop in your beast.An abscess usually requires surgical drainage.
Diagnosis-
Your doctor will do a thorough physical exam and ask you about your signs and symptoms.
A culture of your breast milk might help to determine the best antibiotic, especially if you have a severe infection.
Treatment-

Mastitis treatment might involve-
• Antibiotics-
If you have an infection, a 10 day course of antibiotics is usually needed. It is important to take all of the medication to minimize your chance of recurrence.
• Pain relievers –
Your doctor may recommend an over- the – counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen which also help in fever symptoms.
It’s safe to continue breast feeding if you have mastitis.Breast feeding actually helps clear the infection. Weaning your baby abruptly in likely to worsen your signs and symptoms.
Suggestions for adjusting your breast feeding techniques might include the following –

• Avoiding prolonged overfilling of your breast with milk before breast feeding
• Massaging the breast while breast feeding or pumping, from the affected area down toward the nipple
• Trying to ensure that your infant latches on correctly – Which can be difficult when your breast is engorged.Expressing a small amount of milk by hand before breast feeding might help
• Making sure your breast drains completely during breast feeding. If you have trouble emptying a portion of your breast, apply warm and moist heat to the breast before breast feeding or pumping milk
• Breast feeding on the affected side first, when your infant is hungrier and sucking more strongly
• Varying your breast feeding positions
Ayurvedic Perspective-
According to Ayurveda mastitis can be corerelated with Stana vidradhi and Stana Shotha.
Beneficial Herbs-
• Garlic-

• Turmeric-

• Nirgundi –

Effective Medications –
• Kanchnar Gugglu
• Gandhak Rasayan
• Nirgundi Oil
• Jatyadi Oil