women s health issues
Mastitis
Treatment of Breast Infection
Antibiotics Treatment of pain and complete emptying of milk from the breast Breast infections are treated with antibiotics, such asdicloxacillin,cephalexin,clindamycin, or sometimeserythromycin. Pain and swelling are managed with cold compresses and pain relievers, such asacetaminophenor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), includingibuprofen. The breast should be completely emptied when milk ducts are full by breastfeeding or pumping. Women are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids. If symptoms of the infection do not lessen or symptoms are serious, women should seek medical attention—for example, if the breast looks red, the redness is spreading, or the woman has fever and chills. Women who have a breast infection and are breastfeeding should continue to breastfeed because emptying the breast helps with treatment and decreases the risk of a breast abscess. Breast Infection and Breast Abscess are treated with antibiotics and are usually drained surgically. This procedure can be done using a local anesthetic but may require sedatives given by vein (intravenously) or a general anesthetic. If taking antibiotics does not relieve the infection or there is no infection, doctors do an evaluation to check for breast cancer. 