Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Sweden, Helsingborg Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden.
Int Breastfeed J. 2013 Apr 20;8(1):2. doi: 10.1186/1746-4358-8-2.
The reported incidence of lactational mastitis varies greatly; the single highest reported incidence in the scientific literature is 33%. The purpose of this study was to collect data regarding incidence and experiences of lactational mastitis from women attending a meeting of lactation specialists and to compare findings in a similar population reported in 1990 by Riordan and Nichols.
A retrospective questionnaire study was carried out with a group of Danish lactation specialists in 2011. The questionnaire was constructed to replicate that used in 1990 and included questions about occurrence of mastitis, the infant's age, breast segments afflicted, examination by a physician, use of antibiotics and possible causes of the illness.
As in the earlier research, respondents in this study reported a 33% occurrence of lactational mastitis. This cannot however, be considered as the incidence of mastitis. In order to state the incidence it is necessary to impose a time limit for the collection of data and to know the size of the population at risk. Incomplete emptying of the breast was the factor most frequently cited as the cause of mastitis.
Researchers must strive to be as exact as possible when reporting definitions and incidences of mastitis and should attempt to identify the true population at risk - in this case, all women who were breastfeeding in the uptake area under study, during a specified time limit. Well-designed studies in different global locations are needed before any conclusions can been drawn about the range of incidences of mastitis.
哺乳期乳腺炎的报告发病率差异很大；文献中报告的发病率最高的单一数字为 33%。本研究的目的是从参加哺乳专家会议的女性中收集关于哺乳期乳腺炎发病率和发病经历的数据，并与 Riordan 和 Nichols 1990 年报告的类似人群的发现进行比较。
2011 年，对一组丹麦哺乳专家进行了回顾性问卷调查研究。该问卷的设计旨在复制 1990 年使用的问卷，包括乳腺炎发生、婴儿年龄、受影响的乳房部位、医生检查、使用抗生素和疾病可能原因等问题。
与早期研究一样，本研究中的受访者报告哺乳期乳腺炎的发病率为 33%。然而，这不能被视为乳腺炎的发病率。为了说明发病率，有必要规定数据收集的时间限制，并了解风险人群的规模。乳房未排空是乳腺炎最常被提及的原因。
研究人员在报告乳腺炎的定义和发病率时必须尽可能准确，并应努力确定真正的风险人群——在这种情况下，是研究期间特定时间内所有在哺乳的女性。在得出关于乳腺炎发病率范围的任何结论之前，需要在不同的全球地点进行精心设计的研究。
