What are the early symptoms of mastitis?

Mastitis refers to the acute suppurative infection of the mammary gland and is a common breast disease during the lactation period for women. It often occurs in first-time mothers and can happen at any time during breastfeeding. Below, we invite Director Liu Sujun, an expert from the Xi'an Breast Specialty Hospital, to answer the following questions: What are the early symptoms of mastitis? How can we effectively prevent mastitis?

Director Liu introduces that the early symptoms of mastitis mainly manifest as breast swelling and pain, with localized high skin temperature, tenderness, and the appearance of hard lumps with unclear boundaries that cause discomfort upon touch. Symptoms worsen during breastfeeding due to the poor secretion of milk, which may lead to breast lump formation along with systemic discomfort such as poor appetite, chest tightness, and irritability. If not treated in time, the affected breast area may become harder, and the lump will gradually increase in size. At this point, obvious systemic symptoms may also occur, such as high fever, chills, general weakness, and constipation.

Breast specialist Director Liu provides some specific methods for preventing mastitis:

1. Before childbirth, clean the nipples with a dedicated towel and soap, and pinch and pull the nipples with your thumb and index finger to toughen the skin.

2. During the breastfeeding period, keep the nipples clean and ensure that the breast milk is fully drained after each feeding. If the baby does not finish the milk, manually express or use a breast pump to empty it to prevent breast engorgement.

3. Maintain a balanced diet by consuming more whole grains such as whole wheat products, beans, and fresh vegetables, controlling the intake of animal proteins, and supplementing appropriate trace elements. Selenium, an essential trace element, is known as the "king of anti-cancer" and can effectively inhibit cancer cells!

4. Keep a pleasant mood. If a mother suffers from mastitis during treatment, she should stop breastfeeding the baby and maintain a positive attitude. A good mood is also an effective remedy for breast-related diseases.