What are breast infections and breast abscesses?
A breast infection is an infection in the tissue of the breast.
If your breast infection goes untreated, it can become a breast abscess.
A breast abscess is a pocket of pus that forms a lump in your breast
A breast abscess is very rare
What are the symptoms of a breast infection?
If you have a breast infection, an area of your breast gets:
Tender
Swollen
Red
Warm
What causes breast infections?
Breast infections are rare but happen more often around childbirth, after an injury, or after surgery
You’re more likely to get a breast infection if you have diabetes Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough or respond normally to insulin, causing blood sugar (glucose) levels to be abnormally high. Symptoms of diabetes may... read more or if you take corticosteroids (medicine to lower swelling and pain)
How do doctors treat a breast infection or breast abscess?
Doctors have you take antibiotics to treat the infection.
Doctors usually drain an abscess. To do this, doctors will:
Do an ultrasound Ultrasonography Ultrasonography is a safe imaging test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the insides of your body. Ultrasonography doesn't use radiation (x-rays). Ultrasonography is also called... read more
(a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the insides of your body) to see where to place the needleDrain the abscess with a needle
