Karleen, Dr Susan Love's Breast Book has an informative section on these infections. It could also be a chronic subareolar abscess. Please allow me to reflect on my own battle w/chronic subareolar abscesses/mastitis. The problem began when my youngest was 13 years old and I believe a much too hard pinch to the nipple area was the catalyst. It was very much hormonally influenced and become a part of my monthly premenstrual period. Both my OB/GYN and the breast surgeon that she referred me to insisted that hormones had nothing to do with it, just coincidence. We treated the first couple of infections w/dicloxacillin (per my request) and they finally decided that a long term, low dose course of tetracycline was indicated. I also started to take lecithin and extra vitamins C & E which were recommended by a friend/nutritionist/LC. These measures kept it from becoming a full blown infection for about a year. The day it flared up I awoke w/high fever, vomiting and a violent headache. I met my surgeon at the hospital ER (was a Wednesday, no office hours) and within 1 hour I was in surgery. I was hospitalized for 5 days and treated for sepsis. Follow up care for 2 weeks, bandage change twice daily (started w/1.5 yds of 1"gauze packed into incision) and a drain through my nipple (ouch). Total healing time was about 6 weeks. I was told that it would probably be a recurring problem for the rest of my life. This occurred 8 years ago. Occasionally I do feel hot twinges in the area but so far so good. Funny post script: my nipple stayed erect for over a year. Much to my husband's delight! Ellen Penchuk, IBCLC Mom to Evan, Larisa and Jared...MIL to Andy! *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html