Breast Infection in Non Nursing Women

Mastitis, or breast infection, occurs when bacteria invade the fatty tissue of one of your breasts. Breast infections are most common in nursing women, but also occur in women who are not breastfeeding.

Causes

Breast infections develop when Staphylococcus aureus bacteria enter the breast tissue through a crack in your nipple. In non-nursing women, cracks sometimes result from dry skin or eczema.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a breast infection in non-nursing women include breast tenderness, warm breast tissues, malaise, swelling, skin redness and a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) or higher.

Treatment

Treatment usually requires oral antibiotics. Applying warm compresses to your breasts also eases the swelling, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Time Frame

With treatment, breast infections in non-nursing women usually clear in 10 to 14 days, though your symptoms could subside in as little as 24-48 hours, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Warning

A rare and rapidly-spreading cancer known as inflammatory breast disease mimics the symptoms of breast infections. Because inflammatory breast disease progresses quickly and often is fatal, consult a doctor if you are not nursing and you develop symptoms of a breast infection.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Mastitis
• U.S. National Library of Medicine: Breast Infection