There is something like a pustule on the nipple

The presence of pus-like blood on the nipples usually occurs during breastfeeding. At this time, breast milk is the main source of nutrition for the baby. Once there is an abnormality in the nipples, it will definitely make parents worried. The main reasons for this phenomenon are nipple inflammation and areola inflammation. The key is to find out the situation and solve it as soon as possible. Next, let’s take a look at the conditions of nipple inflammation and areola inflammation.

Papilitis and areolaritis are purulent inflammations of the nipple and areola skin and glands caused by infections such as Staphylococcus aureus. It often occurs during the lactation period of women. If not handled properly, it can develop into mastitis. Traditional Chinese medicine calls this disease "nipple wind".

Symptoms and signs

When chapped, there are small cracks and ulcers on the surface of the nipple, and the epithelium may become erosive after being softened. In the early stage of this disease, the child will feel a knife-like pain in the nipple when breastfeeding, followed by bleeding or yellow fluid discharge and scab formation on the surface; if the child sucks again, the scab will fall off and form again, and the crack will gradually widen. As the disease progresses, acute or subacute cellulitis or local abscesses form under the areola, which rupture and exude greasy, bean curd-like substances (Figure 1).

Medication

1. Antibiotics can be administered orally or by intramuscular injection. For example, cephalexin 0.25g, 4 times/d, orally; or cefadroxil (cefotaxime) 0.25g, 4 times/d, orally; or lincomycin (lincomycin) 0.25g, 3 times/d, orally; erythromycin 0.5g can be used, orally, 2 times/d.

2. Application of Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this disease is related to "liver qi stagnation and internal heat stagnation" and the treatment principle should be "soothing the liver and promoting qi, clearing away heat and detoxifying". Commonly used Chinese herbal medicines include:

(1) Burdock Soup: 9g each of cooked burdock, raw gardenia, honeysuckle, and forsythia, 12g each of whole burdock (crushed), dandelion, 4.5g each of tangerine peel and tangerine leaves, 6g of bupleurum, and 9g of phellodendron. Decoction in water, 1 packet per day.

(2) Drink for sores and ulcers: 9g each of pangolin beads, soapberry, angelica root, radix trichosanthis, and dried tangerine peel, 6g each of frankincense and myrrh, 30g each of honeysuckle, red peony root, and dandelion. Decoction in water, 1 serving per day. This prescription has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, clearing away heat and detoxifying, and reducing swelling and softening hard masses.

(3) Take 1 whole piece of Rhizoma Corydalis (weighing 100-200g), decoct it in water and apply the residue to the affected area while it is still hot.

(4) Take 60-120g of fresh dandelion and 30-60g of green onion, mash them into a paste, apply it to the affected area, tie it tightly with a bandage or triangular bandage, and change the dressing once a day.

3. Incision and drainage of abscess: For patients with subareolar cellulitis or abscess, incision and drainage should be performed. In order to prevent damage to the sebaceous glands in the areola and the formation of milk fistula, the following points should be noted during surgery: ① Make an arc-shaped incision along the edge of the areola. ② After cutting the skin and subcutaneous tissue, insert vascular forceps or fingers into the abscess cavity to stretch the abscess cavity partitions one by one to facilitate drainage. ③ When using vascular clamps to open the abscess cavity, it should be parallel to the areola skin and expanded close to the areola skin. Do not enter too deep or perpendicular to the mammary duct to avoid damaging the lactiferous duct.