Patient's question:
During breastfeeding, I developed mastitis, which has left a hard lump that won't go away. It hurts very badly whenever my milk comes in.Doctor's answer:
Postpartum mastitis often occurs after the first delivery and is classified into two types based on the progression of the lesion: engorgement mastitis and purulent mastitis. Postpartum mastitis, also known as acute mastitis, is a purulent infection of the breast. Almost all patients are primiparas, and the onset typically occurs 3 to 4 weeks postpartum. The main clinical manifestations include redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the breast, localized lumps, abscess formation, elevated body temperature, and increased white blood cell count.