Breast Infection Symptoms

Breast Infection Symptoms

•Infection: Breast infections may cause pain, redness, and warmth of the breast along with the following symptoms:

◦Tenderness and swelling

◦Body aches

◦Fatigue

◦Breast engorgement

◦Fever and chills

◦Rigor or shaking

•Abscess: Sometimes a breast abscess can complicate mastitis. Harmless, noncancerous masses such as abscesses are more often tender and frequently feel mobile beneath the skin. The edge of the mass is usually regular and well defined. Indications that this more serious infection has occurred include the following:

◦Tender lump in the breast that does not get smaller after breastfeeding a newborn (If the abscess is deep in the breast, you may not be able to feel it). The mass may be moveable and/or compressible.

◦Pus draining from the nipple

◦Persistent fever and no improvement of symptoms within 48-72 hours of treatment