Swelling of mammary glands in newborns

A newly born child may experience a condition such as a breast that is the swelling of the mammary glands in newborns. Often this causes some concern among parents - what is it, the norm or the disease? To beat the alarm? Whether it is necessary to treat the kid?

Indeed, in some cases, swelling of the glands can really mean disease. But, fortunately, this does not always happen: most children thus react to changes in the hormonal background. This condition usually normalizes during the first month of life of the child.

[1]

Causes of swelling of mammary glands in newborns

After birth in the blood of the baby, the concentration of sex hormones changes. This is quite normal phenomenon, which is considered a physiological and natural process of adaptation of the child's organism to an independent life, outside the womb of the mother.

Swelling of the mammary glands in a child is due to the fact that during fetal development, hormones of the mother circulate in his blood. That is, the excess of female hormones in the baby is the cause of temporary breast enlargement.

Do not worry: this state is normalized for several weeks.

The pathogenesis of this phenomenon is simple. The fact is that the mammary glands are extremely sensitive organs that react instantly to the slightest change in the hormonal background. As a result, this can affect not only the volume, but also the structure of the glands. This sensitivity occurs during the birth of a baby, originating in estrogen receptors in the third trimester of pregnancy.

In 85% swelling of mammary glands in newborn girls is observed from 3 to 10 days after birth. At the same time there are discharge from the milk ducts - this is the result of neonatal synthesis of pituitary hormones.

Breast regression can occur up to a year-old age, which is considered a variant of the norm.

Swelling of mammary glands in newborn boys is less common and less pronounced. This condition manifests itself approximately on the third day from the moment of birth and passes independently for a month.

However, sometimes engorgement of the glands can be pathological. This occurs when infection in the milk ducts, both from the outside and from the hematogenous path. In this case, it is, as a rule, about infectious mastitis of newborns.

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Symptoms of swelling of mammary glands in newborns

The first signs of this condition can be as follows:

• swelling of glands or nasolabial zones (2-3 cm in diameter);
• swelling of the external genitalia;
• point white rash in the face;
• in newborn girls - separated from the vagina with an admixture of blood.

In this case, the skin of the glands does not change its color. Soreness is absent. In some children, a liquid of light or gray hue, similar to colostrum, may be released from the nipples.

This physiological condition can arise from one or both sides, and this is not considered a pathology.

Usually, for 1-2 months, these signs disappear on their own.

However, you need to closely monitor the child, so as not to miss the signs of a really beginning disease:

• the body temperature of the baby rises;
• the child becomes drowsy, capricious;
• may lose appetite, there is a violation of sleep;
• diarrhea, frequent and profuse regurgitation is possible.

In the initial stage of a true inflammatory disease, the external condition of the glands remains practically unchanged, but as the process increases, the skin turns red, the otolus zone thickens and swells, and discharge from the nipples may appear. If these symptoms occur, you should immediately visit a doctor.

Consequences and complications of swelling of mammary glands in newborns

Physiological mastitis - the so-called swelling of mammary glands in newborns in medicine. Usually it disappears by itself, without any treatment.

When swelling glands, it is strictly forbidden to press on them, warm up, apply lotions or compresses, rub with ointments - such actions can lead to infection and the development of secondary inflammatory diseases.

With the penetration of bacteria into the milk ducts, such complications can develop:

• purulent mastitis;
• phlegmonous inflammation of adipose tissue;
• sepsis.

These complications are very serious and in the future can turn out to be no less serious consequences. For example, in newborn girls purulent mastitis can provoke blockage of the milk ducts, up to the necrosis of the tissue structures of the gland. Subsequently, this can adversely affect women's health and the possibility of breastfeeding.

In some neglected cases, it is possible to perform an operation to remove a part of the inflammation affected by the inflammation.

[3], [4], [5]

Diagnosis of swelling of mammary glands in newborns

The diagnosis usually does not cause any difficulties. The doctor draws attention to the state of the mammary glands, the degree of their enlargement, the presence of signs of the inflammatory process. Naturally, the age of the child and his general state of health are taken into account.

Is there an instrumental diagnosis of mammary glands? As a rule, there is no need for swelling of the mammary glands in newborns. It is enough for the doctor to be convinced of absence of an inflammation - for this purpose often enough to examine appearance of a breast and to measure temperature.

In rare cases, the doctor prescribes blood tests (a general blood test to determine the signs of an inflammatory reaction) and analysis of discharge from the milk ducts (to identify a possible causative agent of the disease).

In addition, the child may need to consult a pediatric surgeon.

Differential diagnosis is carried out with non-physiological mastitis, that is, with the inflammatory process in the mammary gland.

[6], [7], [8], [9]

Treatment of swelling of mammary glands in newborns

Physiological swelling of the mammary glands in a newborn child does not require special treatment. Therefore, do not immediately panic and run to the pharmacy, buying all sorts of ointments and tinctures, or start treatment with herbs and lotions. The best way to help the baby is not to interfere with the natural process. Physiological mastitis without complications does not disturb the child in any way. It is just necessary to wait a little for the condition to normalize on its own. Of course, you will have to follow certain preventive measures to avoid complications. We will talk about this below.

Medicines can be needed only when there is a suspicion of developing purulent mastitis. In this case, the doctor's consultation should be mandatory, since mastitis in newborns requires treatment in a hospital setting. The doctor will immediately make a sowing of excretions from the mammary glands on the sensitivity of the bacterial flora to antibiotics in order to prescribe an effective antibacterial drug.

For treatment of purulent mastitis, the following are usually used:

• antibiotics;
• homeopathy (for example, the well-known Viburkol);
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• local treatment with external drugs;
• surgical treatment (in advanced complicated cases, an autopsy of the purulent focus is performed) followed by rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

Alternative treatment of physiological swelling of the glands in newborns may also be superfluous. In no case should you resort to the following alternative methods of treatment:

• hot compresses and lotions (can aggravate the condition and provoke the development of true mastitis);
• massage, pressure on the chest, tight bandaging;
• applying and applying ointments, tinctures, decoctions.

Prevention

Prophylaxis of swelling of mammary glands in newborns initially can not be, since the change in the hormonal background in children is a natural and natural process. Nevertheless, it is important to prevent the development of complications of this condition - for example, the development of purulent mastitis.

What should be done to prevent unpleasant consequences:

• carefully care for the baby, follow the hygienic rules;
• regularly bathe the newborn, change diapers and clothes of the baby in a timely manner;
• carry out all procedures to the child only with clean hands;
• Do not allow people who are sick with colds, infectious and viral diseases to come to the baby;
• when suspicious symptoms appear immediately go to the pediatrician, but in no case do not start independent treatment;
• avoid traumatizing the baby's breasts, as well as excessive hypothermia and overheating.

Remember: mastitis is a serious illness, especially in early childhood. To prevent its development, one should not try to treat the natural hormonal swelling of the mammary glands in newborns. It is enough just not to touch the baby's breast, and the prognosis of this condition will be favorable. Within a short time everything will return to normal, and the baby's breast will look normal healthy.

ICD-10 code

• P 00 - P 96 - Some conditions of the perinatal period.
• P 80 - P 83 - Conditions affecting skin and mucous membranes, as well as thermoregulation in the child.
• P 83 - Other specific changes in cutaneous and mucous membranes.
• P 83.4 - Swelling of mammary glands in newborns.