Definition
Mastitis is defined as an inflammatory process with a purely infectious etiology that involves the breast tissue; it is a pathological condition typical of the lactation period, but can also occur outside lactation. Generally, the mastitis that appears in the mother during the period between the birth of the baby and the following six weeks is called "puerperal".
Causes
Mastitis is an infectious disease, triggered by a bacterial insult within the galactophore ducts, from which the milk flows to the nipple; staphylococcus aureus and staphylococci in general represent the bacteria most involved. The invasion of pathogens can be favored by several factors: breast skin lesions caused by incorrect positioning of the baby during lactation, breast fissures, milk stagnation in the breast, poor breast hygiene.
Symptoms
Mastitis is characterized by a particularly intense and burning breast pain, accompanied by discomfort on palpation, pain on breastfeeding, fever, breast swelling, widespread malaise, redness, flu symptoms.
- The initial symptoms of mastitis are very similar to those of breast cancer; therefore, the two conditions can be confusing. A biopsy can ascertain the diagnosis.
Information on Mastitis - Mastitis Treatment Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Mastitis - Mastitis Medication.
drugs
Contrary to what one might think, even in the case of mastitis it is possible to breastfeed the baby, since the bacteria implicated in the infection are almost harmless to the health of the baby; indeed, it seems that breastfeeding is a valid aid to speed up the recovery of the mother, given that it favors the drainage of the breast, avoiding the spread of infection in the other healthy areas of the breast.
It is right to point out that mastitis must not be underestimated: it is in fact a rather dangerous pathology, when not treated or underestimated, which could degenerate into serious complications such as an abscess.
The use of heat directly on the breast is a rather effective remedy to calm the pain: the heat, in fact, conveys the blood to the painful area, favoring recovery in a shorter time. Heat packs can be alternated with cold packs: cold favors vasoconstriction, reducing pain and redness.
Breast massages can also promote breastfeeding, reducing breast pain: this practice is useful for preventing breast engorgement (milk stagnation in the breast).
The most used drugs in therapy are antibiotics (to remove the triggering bacterium) and painkillers (to alleviate symptoms such as pain, swelling, inflammation).
Antibiotics : an antibiotic treatment is sometimes prescribed to eliminate the bacterium implicated in the manifestation of mastitis. In general, the duration of therapy varies from 10 to 14 days; even when the symptoms improve a few days after starting the treatment, it is best not to stop the treatment, to avoid relapses. The antibiotic must be prescribed by the doctor; those drugs whose active ingredients are secreted in milk, such as metronidazole and tetracyclines must be avoided.
The most widely used antibiotics for mastitis treatment are:
- Cefapirin (eg. Brisporin): this drug belongs to the class of cephalosporins and is used in therapy for the treatment of mastitis. The dosage and duration of therapy should be established by the doctor.
- Cloxacillin (eg Cloxac FN): generally, it is recommended to take 500 mg of drug every 6 hours for 7 days; alternatively, take the drug up to 3 days after remission of symptoms. Consult your doctor. Do not exceed 4 grams of active per day.
- Clindamycin (eg Dalacin-T , Clindamycin BIN , Zindaclin , Dalacin-C): the drug can be taken orally at a dose of 300-450 mg every 6 hours, or intravenously (300-900 mg every 8 hours). The duration of therapy varies from one to two weeks. Consult your doctor.
- Clavulanic acid: the drug is a beta-lactamase inhibitor, used as a second-choice therapy for the treatment of mastitis. The dosage should be established by the doctor.
- Flucloxacillin (eg. Flucloxacillin GNT): the drug is an inhibitor of beta lactamase also used to treat mastitis. Take one 1 gram tablet every 6-8 hours before a meal. Do not exceed the dose prescribed by your doctor.
Painkillers : pain accompanies mastitis in most women who suffer from this problem; therefore, drugs with pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory activity (NSAIDs) are particularly effective. Clearly, painkiller treatment cannot replace antibiotic treatment, since NSAIDs cannot eliminate the responsible causative agent.
- Acetaminophen or Paracetamol (eg Tachipirina, Efferalgan, Sanipirina): take the drug in case of fever associated with mastitis, orally (in the form of tablets, syrup, effervescent sachets) or rectally (suppositories); it is recommended to take paracetamol at a dosage of 325-650 mg every 4-6 hours for 6-8 consecutive days, to bring down the fever. The drug can also be taken intravenously: 1 gram every 6 hours or 650 mg every 4 hours for adults and adolescents weighing more than 50 kilos: if the patient weighs less than 50 kilos, give 15 mg / kg every 6 hours or 12.5 mg / kg every 4 hours.
- Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Kendo, Moment): take on the palate 200 to 400 mg of active ingredient (tablets, effervescent sachets) every 4-6 hours, as needed. In some cases, the analgesic can be administered intravenously (400 to 800 mg every 6 hours).
Surgical drainage : this surgical practice consists in incising the breast in case of complicated mastitis associated with abscess; the small incision made on the breast is useful to allow the drainage of the pus accumulated in the abscess.
