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Subject:
From:
Shirley Gross/Les Wallace <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 19 Feb 1997 10:08:44 -0700
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Assunta raised an interesting point about the effect of an abscess on the
lactating breast.  There is no doubt that any abscess can reduce the amount
of milk a breast can make.  The degree of reduction would depend on the
location and size of the abscess, among other factors.  An abscess that was
large (eg 90 cc), under the nipple and with a lot of associated inflammation
would likely have a poorer outcome than a small, superficial and peripheral
abscess.

Abscesses can be extraordinarily painful and this would have an effect by
interfereing with the letdown. An abscess that was diagnosed and treated
quickly would also have a better outcome than one that was able to fester.
(One of our patients had had a large abscess for one month.  The breast shut
down completely. Interestingly, it worked perfectly for the next child!  Not
even a single plugged duct!)

The amount of inflammation surrounding the abscess cavity would depend on
the degree to which the abscess was walled off.  The more the bacteria are
isolated within the cavity, the less response there would be to them.

Finally, the breast is a complicated organ (smarter than this family doc)
and there are numerous endocrine, neural and locally mediated controls.  The
effect of an abscess on any or all of these, would vary greatly from abscess
to abscess and from patient to patient.

Regards,

Shirley Gross
_____________________________________________________________

M. Shirley Gross M.D.,C.M., C.C.F.P.
Director, Edmonton Breastfeeding Clinic
Assistant Clinical Professor
Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Dept. of Family Practice
University of Alberta

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