Question

Two weeks after giving birth, a woman calls the care provider’s office, because she says, “Something is wrong with my breast.” Upon further questioning, she says that she has a hot, hard, sore spot, “about the size of a lemon” on her left breast. She says that she has been having chills and a headache.

1. Why should the nurse expect mastitis instead of breast engorgement?
2. Given the woman’s symptoms, do you think her temperature is elevated? Why?
3. What other information should the nurse provide?

Answer 1

1.. The nurse should expect mastitis intsead of engorgment because in mastitis there is inflammation of the breast tissue along with chills which indicates fever and infection.

2. Woman's symptoms are :-

- hot, hard sore spot

- chills

- headache

#. Yes, according to me, her temperature is elevated because she has inflammation and chills

#. The other information ,the nurse should provide related to :-

Any Discharge from breast

Fever

Malaise

Flulike symptoms

Tenderness localized breast erythema, warmth

Nipple abrasion or fissure

Enlarged axillary lymph nodes

Red, edematous, warm, and hard involved breast