Breast Abscess

Breast abscess is an accumulation of pus in the breast tissue. This is usually caused by an infection in the breast. Injury and infection of the breast can produce the same symptoms in other body parts, except the breast, infections tend to converge and produce a small abscess. It can resemble cysts.

Symptom

Signs and symptoms of breast abscess include:

 • Pain in the breast, redness, swelling and burning sensation in the affected area

• Fever and chills

• overall pain

• Swelling of the lymph nodes under the armpit

Causes & Risk Factors

Cause

 Infection of the breast usually caused by a bacterium that is commonly found in normal skin (Staphylococcus aureus). Infection occurs especially when nursing mothers. The bacteria enter the body through broken skin, usually on the nipple was broken in the early days of breastfeeding. Affected area will be filled with pus.

Infection of the breast is not related to breastfeeding should be distinguished from breast cancer. In rare cases, young women until middle age who did not breastfeed had sub-areolar abscesses (going under the areola, the dark area around the nipple). This condition is actually common in smokers.


Risk factors

 Several factors may be related to, among others:

• Infection after childbirth

• Fatigue

• Anemia

• Diabetes mellitus

• Use of steroids

• Low immune system

• Heavy smokers

• Planting silicon

 Prevention

• Some women have nipples that are flat and make breastfeeding difficult or impossible. To remedy this, Hoffman's exercises can be started from 38 weeks of pregnancy.

 Rub a little lubricant (eg Vaseline) on the areola. Two knuckle or a finger, and the thumb is placed along the side of the nipple and the skin gently pulled the horizontal direction. Then, the movement in the horizontal direction over, keep it eased the situation both times. If these exercises are done several times a day, will help remove the nipple.

 An alternative method is the withdrawal of the nipple, use the special coating inside the bra during pregnancy.

• The nipple and the breast should be cleaned before and after feeding.

• After breastfeeding, your nipples may be lanolin ointment or vitamin A and D

• Avoid clothing that causes irritation in the breast