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Swollen breast: know about mastitis

About

Painful inflammation of the breast tissue caused either by a blocked milk duct or a bacteria entering the breast.

Adult lactating women, 15 to 45 years of age are usually affected [1].

- Treatable by a medical professional
- Usually self-diagnosable
- Lab tests or imaging rarely required
- Short-term: resolves within days to weeks

Breastfeeding the baby when experiencing infection, does not put your baby at risk. The human milk has antibacterial properties that actually protect your baby from infection.

Symptoms

- Sore breast.
- Red, hot, swollen and painful breast.
- Nipple discharge, sometimes with streaks of blood.
Occasional flu-like symptoms.

Treatment

Self-care
Do not stop breastfeeding the baby even when experiencing a sore breast. This will speed up your recovery. Use cold packs (instead of hot ones) on the affected tissue to relieve swelling and pain. Avoid tight-fitting clothing until the symptoms show improvement. Increase your consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, and avoid excessive consumption of sugar.

Medication
Over-the-counter painkillers and antibiotics are prescribed.

Specialists
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