Mastitis is a non-cancerous infectious condition that causes inflammation in the breasts when the patient has clogged milk ducts or breaks in the skin of the nipples. It occurs mostly in women who are breastfeeding, and it can lead to swelling and pain.

Let’s explore mastitis in more detail and discuss the signs of clogged milk ducts and other symptoms that this infection can cause. 

Causes of Mastitis 

Mastitis is an infection that occurs when the bacteria enters your breasts through the milk ducts or nipple cracks. These are then found on your skin or baby’s mouth, and in most cases, it only affects one breast. 

You’re more likely to develop the condition if there’s milk trapped in your breasts due to poor breastfeeding positions, as this can allow bacteria to grow.

In addition, mastitis can also affect men and women who don’t breastfeed, and this can happen if they:

  • Have a breast implant.
  • Smoke, tobacco toxins can damage the breast tissue.
  • Have nipple piercings or eczema.
  • Have a weak immune system if they have diabetes.
  • Shave or pluck hairs around the nipples. 

Mastitis Symptoms and Diagnosis

Ill Pregnant Young Woman With Pill on Grey Background

During your appointment, your OB-GYN performs a breast exam to check for any symptoms that you might be experiencing:

  • Swelling that feels painful or hot, and the skin may also become red, which can be difficult to see on dark skins. 
  • A burning pain that is persistent while breastfeeding.
  • Nipple discharge that may be white or contain blood streaks.
  • A wedge-shaped breast lump. 

Other flu-like mastitis symptoms that can develop include:

  • Aches.
  • High temperature.
  • Chills.
  • Tiredness. 

Also, below are some common clogged milk duct symptoms that patients experience when they have mastitis:

  • Pain or swelling near the lump.
  • Discomfort that goes away after you stop breastfeeding. 
  • Milk blister that forms near the opening of your nipples.
  • Movement of the lump over time.  

Other Diagnostic Tests

Women who aren’t breastfeeding or don’t see any improvement with treatment may opt for a mammogram or a breast biopsy. This is because some breast cancers can cause similar symptoms to those of mastitis.

This is what happens during these exams:

  • Mammogram: It is an X-ray test that produces an image of your breast tissue, and it can help doctors identify any abnormal structures that you might have, including cysts and tumors. These exams can also detect early breast cancer.
  • Biopsy: When you come in for a breast biopsy, we remove parts of a suspicious area for examination. This test helps us determine whether you have a lump, lesion, or tumor.

Risk Factors of Mastitis 

Some factors can increase your risk of mastitis or clogged ducts, such as:

  • Previous history of mastitis while breastfeeding.
  • Sore or cracked nipples.
  • Smoking. 
  • Improper breastfeeding positions.
  • Stressful events.
  • Poor nutrition. 
  • Tight-fitting bras. They put more pressure on your breasts and can reduce milk flow.

How to Prepare For Your Appointment

Women with mastitis should visit an OB-GYN’s office to evaluate their problem and receive a diagnosis.

Here’s what you can do to prepare for your appointment:

  • Create a list of any symptoms that you may be experiencing, such as swelling, blocked milk ducts, or nipple discharge.
  • Write down all the medications that you’re taking, including vitamins and supplements. 
  • Write down any recent changes that you’ve gone through, such as stress.

Furthermore, there are also questions that you can ask your doctor to learn more about your treatment, home remedies, and whether the condition will affect your breastfeeding journey.

Most of our patients with mastitis or clogged ducts ask us the following:

  • Do I need treatment, or do mastitis symptoms clear on their own?
  • Are there any home remedies that can relieve my clogged milk duct symptoms?
  • Will mastitis affect my baby?
  • Is the medication safe for breastfeeding?
  • Can the condition come back?

How It Can Cause Complications

It’s best to seek medical help if you notice any mastitis symptoms or signs of clogged milk ducts. If you don’t get the proper treatment, abscess, or pus, can accumulate in your breasts, and you’ll have to undergo surgery so that the doctor can remove this abscess.

Our Breast Care Center Miami team also recommends calling your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Infection in both breasts.
  • Pus or blood in your breast milk. 
  • A painful lump. 
  • Sudden severe symptoms. 

Treatment For Mastitis and Blocked Milk Ducts Symptoms

Both medications and home remedies can be effective in relieving mastitis or clogged milk duct symptoms:

Medications and Surgery

If you have mastitis without an abscess, doctors may prescribe antibiotics such as cephalexin and dicloxacillin. Other antibiotics are available, but it depends on your condition, doctor’s preferences, and whether you’re allergic to any drugs. 

You can use these medications while breastfeeding as they won’t harm your baby. 

If you have recurrent episodes, antibiotics may not be effective, and you may require a close follow-up with your doctor.  As a matter of fact, if you don’t see any improvement with your mastitis or clogged ducts, you may need IV antibiotics.

However, if there’s an abscess in your breast tissue, you may have to undergo surgery, so the doctor can drain the pus using a needle and syringe or a small incision. 

Also, if the abscess is deep in your breasts, a surgical drainage procedure may be the best option. We perform this under general anesthesia to relieve pain and drain the abscess. 

Home Remedies

You can implement some strategies to relieve any blocked milk ducts symptoms, such as:

  • Avoid trying to pop the clog.
  • Massaging the clog.
  • Wearing loose-fitting clothes.
  • Avoid wearing bras that come with underwires.
  • Applying a heating pad or a warm cloth to your breasts for 20 minutes.

Follow-Up Care After a Breast Infection

It is common for health clinics to recommend that their patients do the following if they have a breast infection and any signs of clogged milk ducts:

  • Completing the whole antibiotics course as prescribed. 
  • Taking the temperature three times per day for the first two days after starting the treatment plan.
  • See a doctor if high fever, vomiting, or increased redness develops. 
  • Revisiting the doctor’s clinic after two weeks to check that the infection has disappeared.

What To Do If The Infection Comes Back

A Female Doctor Sits at Her Desk and Talks to a Female Patient While Looking at Her Mammogram. Brest Cancer Prevention

We recommend seeing a doctor if your mastitis symptoms don’t disappear or your milk ducts are still clogged 48 hours after taking medications. 

It’s also important to seek medical help if you develop the condition, but you’re not breastfeeding. 

In addition, mastitis can come back, especially if you’re breastfeeding, as this can occur when you’re not using the correct breastfeeding positions. 

A nurse or midwife can provide more tips to help you find the right position for you and your body and ensure that your child is properly latched.

Tips For Preventing Mastitis 

Women who breastfeed have an increased risk of developing the infection more than others. 

However, you can apply these habits to prevent mastitis or reduce the risk of blocked milk ducts symptoms from coming back:

  • Drinking fluids.
  • Washing hands and cleaning the nipples.
  • Allowing cracked nipples to air dry.
  • Ensuring that both breasts are empty, so the milk ducts don’t get clogged.

Book Your Appointment Today

Mastitis is a non-cancerous infectious condition, but it can lead to complications if you don’t get treated right away. 

At Breast Care Center Miami, we specialize in treating various breast conditions, and we also offer different tests to help us with diagnosis. 

Call our reception desk to set up an appointment with us. Our clinic is open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m