Breast infection

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Breast infection

Female breast

Normal female breast anatomy

Mastitis; Infection - breast tissue; Breast abscess

Self-care may include applying moist heat to the infected breast tissue for 15 to 20 minutes four times a day.

Antibiotic medications are usually very effective in treating a breast infection. You are encouraged to continue to breast-feed or to pump to relieve breast engorgement (from milk production) while receiving treatment.

The condition usually clears quickly with antibiotic therapy.

In severe infections, an abscess may develop. Abscesses require more extensive treatment, including surgery to drain the area. Women with abscesses may be told to temporarily stop breast-feeding.

Call your health care provider if any portion of the breast tissue becomes reddened, tender, swollen, or hot, or if the lymph nodes in the armpit become tender or swollen.

Review Date: 05/10/2006
Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.