Mastitis

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Complications that may arise from mastitis include:

  • Recurrence. Once you've had mastitis, you're more likely to get it again, either breast-feeding the same infant or a future child. Delayed or inadequate treatment is usually to blame for mastitis recurrence.
  • Milk stasis. When the milk isn't completely drained from your breast during breast-feeding, milk stasis can occur. This causes increased pressure on the ducts and leakage of milk into surrounding breast tissue, which can lead to pain and inflammation.
  • Abscess. When mastitis is inadequately treated, or if it's related to milk stasis, a collection of pus (abscess) can develop in your breast. An abscess usually requires surgical draining. To avoid this complication, talk to your doctor as soon as you develop signs or symptoms of mastitis.

DS00678

March 25, 2008

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