Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Mastitis

Mastitis is inflammation of the breast. Most cases of mastitis happen in breastfeeding mothers, although it can also happen in women who are not breastfeeding. It is sometimes caused by an infection spreading from another part of the body, or when bacteria get into the breast through cracked or pierced nipples.

Women aged between 18 and 50 are the most commonly affected. Usually mastitis is an acute condition, which means it is a short period of inflammation. In rare cases, women have chronic mastitis, when it lasts a long time.

Sometimes, the term ‘chronic mastitis’ is wrongly used to describe a condition in which the breasts are of an irregular rubbery consistency and contain painful or tender nodules or cysts, which feel lumpy. These nodules change with the menstrual cycle. This is properly known as benign mammary dysplasia, or fibrocystic disease.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Prevention
• Complications
• Treatment

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