gynecology and obstetrics
Mastitis
Introduction
Mastitis is painful inflammation of the breast, usually accompanied by infection. Fever later in the puerperium is frequently due to mastitis. Staphylococcal species are the most common causes. Breast abscesses are very rare and occasionally caused by methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus. Mastitis symptomsmay include high fever and breast symptoms: erythema, induration, tenderness, pain, swelling, and warmth to the touch. Mastitis is different from the pain and cracking of nipples that frequently accompanies the start of breastfeeding. Diagnosisof mastitis is clinical. 