Acute puerperal mastitis

Abstract Fifty-three lactating mothers were observed during 71 attacks of endemic febrile acute mastitis during the period 1948 to 1968. Management consisted of early institution of simple support, intermittent cold pack, continued nursing, and administration of sulfisoxazole; a few were given additional antibiotics. In over half the episodes, lactation continued successfully during and following mastitis, with no infants demonstrating illness attributable to nursing. Several indications for weaning were observed. There were 8 abscesses; treatment was known to have been delayed longer than 24 hours in 6 of these. A discussion of the rationale for early treatment and continued lactation is given.