Puerperal mastitis is breast inflammation that develops during the first month after delivery. It is commonly caused by Staph aureus.

Diagnosis:

Clinical: Fever, chills, flu like symptoms, breast pain with warm, erythromatous indurated, engorged and tender breast (one or both breasts) and ± axillary lymphadenopathy ± Fluctuating breast mass.

Laboratory: Leucocytosis with left shift

Gram stain and culture of the pus from the breast abscess if any

Treatment:

Non-Drug Treatment:

Suction, Analgesic, Antipyretic and Breast-feeding of the healthy breast

1. If the symptom is mainly Local:

Drug treatment

Cloxacilline 500 mg p.o. 6 hourly for 7-10 days

(For S/E, C/I, D/I and Dosage forms, see page 88)

2. If there is evidence of Sepsis

Refer to the nearby district hospital