If a plugged duct is not taken care of, mastitis can result. Acute mastitis is an infection and swelling of the breast, usually occurring as a result of bacteria (most often Staphylococcus aureus) entering the nursing mother’s breast through the cracks or fissures in the nipple. Mothers are most vulnerable to acute mastitis in the first few weeks of nursing because cracks in the nipple develop more often during this time. Soreness and redness in the breast, fever, yellow, puslike secretions from the nipple, general tiredness, and flu like symptoms are indicators of this problem. In fact, in a nursing mother, all flu like symptoms should be considered a breast infection until proven otherwise. A mother who has high fever, in addition to the aforementioned symptoms, should see a doctor.                         There are normally two types of Mastitis one is puerperal mastitis and another one is nonpuerperal mastitis occurs in pregnancy, during lactation or weaning. It is due to blocked milk or excess milk whereas non puerperal mastitis is not related to these situations. The term nonpuerperal mastitis describes inflammatory lesions of the breast occurring unrelated to pregnancy and breastfeeding. This article includes description of mastitis as well as various kinds of mammary abscesses. Names for non-puerperal mastitis are not used very consistently and include Mastitis, Subareolar Abscess, Duct Ectasia, Periductal Inflammation, Zuska's Disease and others.             Mastitis needs to be differentiated from a plugged or blocked duct, because a plugged or blocked duct does not need treatment with antibiotics, whereas mastitis often,but not always, requires treatment with antibiotics.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of puerperal mastitis and non puerperal mastitis are similar. Inflammation, reddening and pain of breast tissue are the symptoms of mastitis. Breast may be tender and warm to touch, continuous feeling of burning sensation and pain, general malaise or ill feeling, generally the redness is in wedge shaped pattern and fever of 101oF or more are some more symptoms of mastitis.
Mastitis may develop anytime during lactation but usually begins 3 to 4 weeks postpartum with fever (101° F [38.3° C] or higher in acute mastitis), malaise, and flu like symptoms. The breasts (or, occasionally, one breast) become tender, hard, swollen, and warm. Unless mastitis is treated adequately, it may progress to breast abscess.
Breast engorgement generally starts with onset of lactation (day 2 to day 5 postpartum). The breasts undergo changes similar to those in mastitis, and body temperature may be elevated. Engorgement may be mild, causing only slight discomfort, or severe, causing considerable pain. A severely engorged breast can interfere with the infant's capacity to feed because of his inability to position his mouth properly on the swollen, rigid breast.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
It is now recognized that mastitis is most often caused by "milk stasis". This is when milk "backs up" because it is being made faster than it is removed. It is usually caused by your baby not emptying your breasts well when he feeds. Bacteria from baby’s mouth and skin enter the breast through cracks or break in the skin of the nipple or through the opening to the milk duct of the nipple. After entry they start growing there and cause pain, swelling and redness of the affected breast. It is more common within six weeks after the delivery.
Other causes of mastitis include complications during delivery and inability to breastfeed the baby soon after birth, engorgement that doesn't return to normal, feeding to a strict routine, an ill fitting bra, high level of maternal stress or fatigue or even trauma to the breast, which all can cause milk stasis leading to mastitis.

CONTROL OF MASTITIS
One of the most important keys to controlling mastitis in ewes is good management practices. The incidence of mastitis is greater in closely confined flocks. Bedding material in barns should be clean, especially before and after lambing. Microorganisms thrive in dark, wet, warm bedding. When the ewes lay down to rest, the bacteria in dirty bedding can easily enter the teat when the udder is full of milk. Microorganisms can enter the teat canal. Dirty bedding and crowding will make this possible. Lambs from infected ewes will often nurse other ewes, spreading the microorganisms to others in the flock. Isolating ewes suspected of chronic or acute mastitis will help reduce the incidence of mastitis in a flock. Ewes should be fed in bunks rather than on the ground.

HOME REMEDIES

• Take poke roots this helps mastitis. Use under doctor supervision. 
• Queen's delight Clears congestion of lymphatic vessels, stimulates white blood cells to react to infection. 
• Place hot towels on the breast or run hot water over them in the shower. 
• Elder is used to reduce swelling of breast infected with mastitis. 
• Drink lots of water or alfalfa juice.
• Raw cabbage leaves are a great mastitis treatment. They can be placed directly on the infected area of the breast, also to help draw out the heat and infection. The cabbage leaves will become warm and wilted and should then be changed out. This cure is especially effective just after a duct is clogged and before the infection sets in.
• We also used Echinacea root tincture as part of our mastitis treatment. One dropper full six times a day until the fever passed, and then smaller doses (2 or 3 times a day) until all symptoms had cleared.
• Susun Weed also recommends poke root as an effective mastitis treatment. “A tincture of fresh (only) root stimulates lymph gland activity and clears mastitis quickly.” Use not more than 2 drops daily.
• Cold, grated raw potato can also be used as a poultice. Apply directly to the breasts and cover with a clean cloth. Replace when dry.
• Soaking breasts in an infusion of marshmallow root can also be an extremely soothing and healing mastitis treatment. Steep two ounces of root in a half gallon of boiling water overnight. Reheat to near boiling and pour into a basin. Soak breasts until the infusion cools.
• Boil 50 Gms of finely chopped Lemon grass or Cymbopogon citratus aerial parts in 250 ml of water. Strain and drink 15 ml of this filtrate thrice daily for a week. The Mastitis is resolved in a week of treatment with Lemon grass or Cymbopogon citratus aerial extracts.
• Boil 50 gms of finely chopped Zizyphus lotus root bark in 250 ml of water for 30 minutes. Strain and drink 50 ml of the Zizyphus lotus extracts, thrice daily for a week. The inflammatory condition associated with Mastitis is reduced in 2 days and complete relief is afforded in a week using Zizyphus lotus extracts.
• Boil 1 tsp of Rhus chirindensis bark powder in a cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink the extracts twice daily for a week.
• Boil 50 Gms of finely pulverized Hunteria zeylanica aerial parts in 250 ml of water for 30 minutes. Strain and drink 15 ml of the extract twice daily for a week. The prognosis of mastitis is considerably improved in 2 days of treatment with Hunteria zeylanica extracts.
• Add water to slippery elm powder until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area with a small cloth.
• Mix 1/4 cup of dried thyme to 2 cups of boiling water. Let this natural mastitis treatment stand for about 30 minutes. Strain the mixture and reheat it. Soak a cloth in the mixture and then apply the cloth to the affected area as a compress.
• For treating Mastitis, include 100 Gms of Lecithin in your daily diet. The symptoms of Mastitis are resolved properly in a week with Lecithin rich diets.

RECOMMENDATION

• Apply an ice pack or a warm compress to the affected breast to help reduce your pain. If you use an ice pack, place the ice outside of your bra or clothing. Do not put the ice directly on your bare skin.

• Drink extra fluids.
• If your breasts are very full (engorged), pump or express a small amount of breast milk before breast-feeding. This will make your breasts less full and may make it easier for your baby to latch on to your breast.

• If pus is draining from your infected breast, wash the nipple gently and let it air dry before putting your bra back on. A disposable breast pad placed in the bra cup may absorb the drainage.

• Take full bed rest while you fight the infection.
• Continue nursing, starting with the infected breast each time. It'll not hurt the baby; it's the area around the milk duct, not the milk itself, that is infected. It helps clear the infection.  
• Air-dry the nipples after nursing to prevent cracking. If the nipples do crack, you can coat them with breast milk, or apply aloe vera juice after they dry to help them heal. You can also apply heat with a hot water bottle or heating pad before and after nursing, or use a heat lamp with a regular 100-watt bulb for a few minutes after nursing in order to heal cracks and prevent infections. Place the lightbulb twelve to eight inches from the breast- not so close as to cause discomfort.
• Your doctor may advise you to stop breast-feeding until the infected breast heals. If so, use a breast pump to prevent the breast from becoming engorged.
• Remember to always wash your hands before and after breast-feeding to remove germs, and always the breast and nipple area afterward.