Mastitis

Overview of Mastitis

Risk factors include poor latch, cracked nipples, use of a breast pump, and weaning. [1]

Causes of Mastitis

• Mastitis typically develops when the milk is not properly removed from the breast.
• Milk stasis can lead to the milk ducts in the breasts becoming blocked, as the breast milk is not being properly and regularly expressed.
• Mastitis may occur when the baby is not appropriately attached to the breast while feeding, when the baby has infrequent feeds or has problems suckling the milk out of the breast.
• The presence of cracks or sores on the nipples increases the likelihood of infection.
• Tight clothing or ill-fitting bras may also cause problems as they compress the breasts.
• There is a possibility that infants carrying infectious pathogens in their noses can infect their mothers  the clinical significance of this finding is still unknown.
• Mastitis and breast abscesses can also be caused by direct trauma to the breast. Such injury can occur for example during sports activities or due to seat belt injury.

Pathophysiology of Mastitis

• In lactational mastitis, it is likely that bacteria (often originating from the mouth of the infant) gain entry via cracks or fissures in the nipple surface.
• Once the primary defences are breached, organisms have an ideal culture environment in nutrient rich maternal milk leading to rapid replication.[1]

Diagnosis of Mastitis

• The diagnosis of mastitis and breast abscess can usually made based on a physical examination. The doctor will also take into account the signs and symptoms of the condition.
• However, if the doctor is not sure whether the mass is an abscess or a tumor, a breast ultrasound may perform.
• In cases of infectious mastitis, cultures may need in order to determine what type of organism is causing the infection. Cultures are helpful in deciding the specific type of antibiotics that will use in curing the disease.
• These cultures may take either from the breast milk or of the material aspirated from an abscess.
• Mammograms or breast biopsies are normally performing on women.

Differential Diagnosis of Mastitis

• Galactocele
• Breast engorgement
• Mastodynia
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Breast cancer
• Fibroadenoma
• Mondor’s disease
• Breast abscess

Treatment of Mastitis

• In lactation mastitis, frequent emptying of both breasts by breastfeeding is essential. Also essential is adequate fluid supply for the mother and baby.
• For breastfeeding women with light mastitis, massage and application of heat prior to feeding can help as this may aid unblocking the ducts.
• No puerperal mastitis is treated by medication and possibly aspiration or drainage (see in particular treatment of subareolar abscess and treatment of granulomatous mastitis).
• In idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, successful treatment includes invasive surgical procedures or less invasive treatment with steroid medications. [1]

Homeopathic Treatment of Mastitis

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.

which includes

• The medical history of the patient,
• Physical and mental constitution,
• Family history,
• Presenting symptoms,
• Underlying pathology,
• Possible causative factors etc.

A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.

What Homoeopathic doctors do?

A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’?.

The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.

The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic Medicines for Mastitis:

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Medicines:

1. Apis Mellifica:

• Erysipelatous mastitis
• High fever, but no sweat
• Swelling, hardness of and burning, stinging in mammae
• Threatening in less degree to pass into suppuration and ulceration, great sensitiveness to touch or to slightest pressure. [2]
• Aggravation especially By cold applications.[2]

2. Belladona:

• Breasts feel heavy, red streaks running like radii from a central point.
• Accompanied by pulsating pains, heavy headache, constipation also scanty urine.
• Erysipelatous inflammation, stitches appear also disappear quickly.
• Aggravation specifically from jar or jolt.[2]

3. Bryonia:

• Stony heaviness of breast, hot, hard, painful, but not very red
• Severe stitching pains in breast
• Aggravation when lifting arm or motion, feels sick on first sitting up in bed or in a chair, and worse on standing up
• First stage of mammary abscess.[2]

4. Phytolaca:

• Hardness apparent from the start, caked breast, gathered breast, with large fistulous gaping also angry ulcers
• Discharging a watery foetid pus, nipples and mammae sensitive, even after suppuration has taken place
• Right mammae; when child nurse pain goes from the nipple all over the body.
• Aggravation evening. on the other hand; Amelioration after midnight.[2]

5. Phosphorus:

• Phlegmonous inflammation
• Breasts swollen, red in spots or streaks
• Hard knots in different places, with fistulous openings, burning stinging pains
• Watery, offensive discharge, hectic fever and night-sweats.[2]

6. Pulsatilla:

• Mastitis from mechanical pressure on gland, particularly in young girls.
• Nodosities in mammae, tensive pressure and swelling as from accumulation of milk during nursing.[2]

7. Silicea:

• Fistulous ulcers with callous edges,
• Discharge thin and watery or thick and offensive, substance of the breast seems to discharge into one common ulcer, often with pain, or there may be several orifices, one for each lobe.[2]

8. Sulphur:

• Inflammation running in radii from nipple, threatening suppuration.
• When the lumps first appear, easing the pain and modifying the destruction of tissue.
• Profuse suppuration with chilliness in the forenoon and heat in the afternoon, old ulcerations.
• Breasts feel hot, night-sweats, flushes of heat, weak and faint spells, irresistible hunger towards noon.[2]

Diet & Regimen of Mastitis

• Worried about whether you’ll be able to continue breastfeeding? There’s good news! You don’t have to stop. Feeding your baby frequently may actually help resolve it so you feel better faster.
• Here’s how you can spot the signs of mastitis and treat it at home, as well as some notes on when you should seek medical help.[1]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mastitis?

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast or udder, usually associated with breastfeeding.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Mastitis?

• Apis Mellifica
• Belladona
• Bryonia
• Phytolaca
• Phosphorus
• Pulsatilla
• Silicea
• Sulphur

What causes Mastitis?

• Milk is not properly removed from the breast
• When the baby is not appropriately attached to the breast while feeding
• When the baby has infrequent feeds
• Problems suckling the milk out of the breast
• Cracks or sores on the nipples increases infection
• Tight clothing
• Direct trauma to the breast

What are the symptoms of Mastitis?

• Breast tenderness or warmth to the touch
• General malaise or feeling ill
• Swelling of the breast
• Pain or a burning sensation continuously or while breast-feeding
• Skin redness, often in a wedge-shaped pattern
• Fever of 101 F (38.3 C) or greater
• Lumpy and red

Give the types of Mastitis?

• Puerperal mastitis
• Non-puerperal mastitis
• Pregnancy related
• Non pregnancy related