Mastitis means inflammation (injury from infection or irritation) of the breast tissue. Mastitis may occur in up to a third of women who are lactating (forming breast milk) after giving birth and is then called lactation mastitis. When lactation mastitis is due to an infection, it is usually caused by bacteria, although fungal (yeast) infections also can be the cause. Most cases of lactation mastitis occur during the first three months postpartum (after giving birth), but it may occur any time as long as a woman is breastfeeding. When mastitis is severe, an abscess (collection of pus from an infection) may develop in the breast. The April 2, 2003, issue of JAMA includes an article about lactation mastitis.
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