Madusha (age 29), a mother of a 3-week-old baby, came to my clinic last Tuesday. She was shivering profusely, had a high fever, and was feeling tired.
"Dr. Priya, I've been feeling very cold and feverish since last night. My whole body aches, like I have the flu. One side of my right breast is red, swollen, and painful to the touch. I'm afraid my milk will pass germs to the baby, so I've stopped breastfeeding," Madusha explained her illness.
I examined her and explained: "Madusha, you are facing a condition known as mastitis in medical science. This is an inflammation or infection of the breast tissue, and it is not an infection of the milk at all. Therefore, your breast milk is completely safe for your baby. In fact, continuing to breastfeed is essential for mastitis to heal, and if you stop breastfeeding, there is a risk of milk accumulating in the breast and forming a breast abscess . This is caused by a blocked milk duct or a cracked nipple, allowing bacteria to enter. Today, let's see how to diagnose mastitis and what are the medical treatments for it."
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🚨 Red Flags that require immediate medical attention
Mastitis usually begins to heal within 48 hours with proper medical care. However, you should see a doctor immediately if you have any of the following warning signs:
- Fever or breast pain that does not subside after 24-48 hours of taking antibiotics.
- A hard lump in the breast gradually becomes soft, feels fluid-filled, and is very painful (this is a sign of a developing breast abscess).
- Redness in the breast that quickly spreads to the chest or armpit.
- The mother may have extreme cold and shivering, fainting, or difficulty breathing (sepsis - signs of the germs spreading to the bloodstream).
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