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WHAT IS A BREAST ABSCESS? EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

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WHAT IS A BREAST ABSCESS

  • An abscess is formed by an accumulation of pus in the body as the cause of an infection.
  • The condition often occurs in lactating females, making it important for them to visit a doctor and get their condition treated effectively.
  • The situation can recur, which makes treatment even more important.

Causes

  • An abscess develops in the breast when an infection affects it. The infection may also be a result of the breast tissues being inflamed.
  • Furthermore, it can affect both lactating and non-lactating women, with slight differences.
  • An untreated infection is what causes a breast abscess in lactating women.
  • The infections are caused by bacteria that are present on the skin or come from the baby’s mouth.
  • The bacteria usually come in through a cut in the skin, the milk ducts, or cracked nipples.
  • Breastfeeding is believed to account for 10 to 33% of all postpartum breast infections.
  • Similarly, breast abscesses in non-lactating women are also caused by bacterial infections.
  • This kind is known as subareolar breast abscess.
  • Bacteria can make their way into the breasts through cuts in the skin, cracked nipples, or nipple piercings.
  • Males can also develop subareolar breast abscesses.

Signs and Symptoms

The typical symptoms you are likely to find with breasts abscesses include:

  1. Redness in the affected area
  2. Pain
  3. Warm skin
  4. Swelling in the infected area
  5. Nipple drainage
  6. Discharge from a different part of the breast

    An active infection may also bring fever and chills. It will also result in fatigue.

  • A fever means that you should consult a doctor.
  • If you’re already on an antibiotics course and don’t feel better within two days, you must seek medical help.
  • Letting the infection spread and become more serious can cause several problems.

Diagnosis

  • The symptoms of a breast abscess are quite similar to that of a regular infection, which makes diagnosis tricky.
  • The diagnosis is furthered after a physical examination, during which a doctor may also inquire about medical history and ask if you have suffered from an abscess before.
  • To get a concrete idea of the abscess, the doctor can conduct an ultrasound of the breasts.
  • Further tests may also be conducted using needle aspiration to gather samples.
  • These tests also help to rule out the presence of benign cysts in the breasts.
  • Furthermore, cancer can also be ruled out through these tests.

Treatment

  • Treating a breast abscess typically revolves around draining the pus from the breasts.
  • The doctor will first apply a local anesthetic.
  • Afterward, the push can be drained after making a small incision in the pus-filled region.
  • The other option involves draining the pus with a needle.
  • While this treatment is less invasive, the needle may be injected multiple times before all the pus is removed.
  • Both treatment options let you go back home the same day.
  • However, 53% of people are believed to be affected by a breast abscess again after recovery.
  • Staying healthy after the treatment is highly important.