Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Mastitis natural history, complications, and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: ; Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]

Overview

Overview

If left untreated, up to 11% of patients with puerperal mastitis may progress to develop a breast abscess.[1] Complications that may arise from mastitis include: recurrence, milk stasis and abscess formation. The prognosis is usually good and mastitis clears quickly with antibiotic therapy. 73% of smokers diagnosed with mastitis[2] have the worst prognosis, especially those with non-puerperal mastitis, and have a higher rate of recurrence of breast abscesses.

Natural history, complications, and prognosis

Natural history, complications, and prognosis

Natural history

If left untreated, up to 11% of patients with puerperal mastitis may progress to develop a breast abscess.[1]

Complications

Complications that may arise from mastitis include:

  • Recurrence
  • Recurrence appears especially in cases of delayed or inadequate treatment.
  • Abscess is the most severe complication that women can get from this condition.

Prognosis

The prognosis is usually good and mastitis clears quickly with antibiotic therapy. 73% of smokers diagnosed with mastitis[2] have the worst prognosis, especially those with non-puerperal mastitis, and have a higher rate of recurrence of breast abscesses.

References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Liu YY, Chen WC, Chen SL (2016). “[The Continued Breastfeeding Experiences of Women Who Suffer From Breast Abscess]”. Hu Li Za Zhi. 63 (2): 49–57. doi:10.6224/JN.63.2.49. PMID 27026557.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Risager R, Bentzon N (2010). “[Smoking and increased risk of mastitis]”. Ugeskr Laeger. 172 (33): 2218–21. PMID 20727287.

Template:WH Template:WS

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH