What is mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection.
The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. You might also have a fever and chills.
Mastitis most commonly affects women who are breastfeeding (lactation mastitis). But mastitis can occur in women who aren't breastfeeding and in men.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mastitis can appear suddenly. They may include:
- Breast tenderness or warmth to the touch
- Breast swelling
- Thickening of breast tissue, or a breast lump
- Pain or a burning sensation continuously or while breast-feeding
- Skin redness, often in a wedge-shaped pattern
- Generally feeling ill
- Fever of 38.3 or greater
Causes
Milk that is trapped in the breast is the main cause of mastitis. Other causes include A blocked milk duct. If a breast doesn't completely empty at feedings, one of your milk ducts can become clogged; Bacteria entering your breast.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mastitis/symptoms-causes/syc-
20374829
