[Mastitis puerperalis - causes and therapy].

Between 1995 and 2003 a total of 1 827 women suffering from puerperal mastitis was studied. Etiology of the disease was defined, white cell counts and microbiologic cultures were obtained. According to the results the illness was classified and treated. Since in all cases we found either simple congestion or non-infectious inflammation of the breast treatment consisted of intensified emptying of the breast by breast feeding every 2 hours and in some cases additional manual expression of milk. Antibiotics and bromocriptine were not used. In 1 826 cases fever and flue symptoms had resolved within 25-36 hours. Redness and soreness had resolved within 2-3 days. Relapse did not occur and none of the women developed an abscess. One woman had to be treated with antibiotics because the baby refused to nurse at the diseased breast and emptying had to be done by hand.