Contents
An acute inflammatory process occurring in the sweat glands of the armpit is called hydradenitis or bough udder. The disease is characterized by the collection of pus in the ducts responsible for the removal of sweat.
Sometimes in some cases, the disease is localized in the navel, in the perineum, near the labia, scrotum and anus. These are the places that sweat the most.
Causes of a bitch udder
A bough udder is formed with a weakened immune system, with diseases of the endocrine system, with damage to the performance of sweat glands, when the body is attacked by a bacterial infection for the second time. Such a serious illness can be a consequence of physical overload and nervous stress. Anemia and obesity are considered to be one of the reasons for the occurrence of a bough udder.
With improper or insufficient observance of the rules of personal hygiene, with a cut or injury caused by shaving, streptococci or staphylococci enter the bloodstream, which also causes a serious inflammatory process. Diaper rash, allergies to deodorants, and excessive sweating also contribute to the development of the disease.
Symptoms of a bitch udder
The disease does not have a pronounced onset of the inflammatory process and is always growing. Initially, the patient is worried about itching and painful swelling, which has a denser structure. Such seals, hilly nodes, are found in the layers of the dermis or hypodermis.
Over time, the swelling increases in size, becomes hard and causes quite painful sensations. During this period, the nodes fuse with the skin, take on a pear-like shape and bulge in the form of nipples. These unusual formations resemble a “bitch’s udder”. The color of the skin changes to purple and you can notice a slight swelling of the tissues.
Then, in the central part, the inflammation softens and pus is spontaneously released with a small amount of blood, having the consistency of sour cream. During illness, a slight increase in body temperature, chills and general weakness are possible. After the completion of purulent discharge, the abscess is delayed and the pain decreases.
Quite often, relapses occur, which results in a protracted course of the disease. Bough udder usually occurs on one side, but sometimes it is bilateral. The course of the disease lasts from ten to fifteen days. Certain characteristics of the patient should be taken into account, and if a person is obese, does not follow body hygiene, has diseases such as hyperhidrosis or diabetes mellitus, then it is possible that the course of the disease will be longer.
Diagnosis of a bough udder
To determine such a disease as a bough udder is not particularly difficult. Initially, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the patient and evaluates the location of the inflammatory process and the clinical picture characteristic of the disease. It is quite easy for an unknowing person to confuse a bough udder from a boil, but a specialist will pay attention to the main distinguishing feature – a necrotic rod. With a bough udder, such a core is not formed. Also, the disease must be distinguished from collicative tuberculosis. It has a longer course and is characterized by severe inflammation of the lymph nodes, while painful sensations do not appear.
The main diagnosis is a clinical blood test. If the compaction is a disease of the bough udder, then there is an acceleration of the ESR and a greater number of leukocytes, which indicates an inflammatory process.
When deciding on the use of antibiotic therapy, culture is performed to determine susceptibility to antibacterial drugs. A prolonged illness and its repetition are indications for an immunogram, which will allow you to examine the body’s immune system.
Bough udder treatment
The treatment of the bitch udder is carried out under the supervision of a doctor with the use of antibiotic therapy, sulfonamides, autohemotherapy and nitrofurans. With repeated, recurrent forms of the disease, individual immunotherapy is used, various modern means are used for general strengthening of the body.
For higher efficiency, local treatment of the udder is used: dry heat, irradiation with ultraviolet and solar rays, UHF, UV therapy, laser therapy and magnetotherapy.
When an abscess (abscess) is formed, it is advisable to open it. This can be done by a surgeon. To protect the wound from infection, it must be closed with a special bandage or bactericidal plaster.
The first 3 – 5 days, when the disease of the bough udder is just beginning to progress, it is necessary to warm up the areas where pain is felt with dry heat. It is advisable to do this every 3 to 5 hours. Heating can be done independently by heating a clean towel with a hot iron, preferably a terry towel, and applying it to the inflamed area, holding it until it cools down. So it is necessary to repeat several times. For the same purpose, you can use bags of salt or sand, which are preheated.
To prevent the spread of infection to the glands that are adjacent to the abscesses, the skin around them must be treated three or four times a day with camphor, boric or salicylic alcohol.
To localize the disease and prevent spread to other sweat glands, to reduce the recovery time, it is recommended to carefully remove hair with scissors, preferably manicure, which grows in the inflamed area and nearby.
When the treatment is completed, it is not advised to take baths for another week. It is better to take a shower, before that, sealing the inflamed area with a plaster (simple or bactericidal) so that water does not get under it, which contributes to the spread of infection.
Diet
For a speedy recovery, special dietary nutrition is prescribed, from the first day of illness and at least three months. The diet implies the exclusion of alcoholic beverages, spicy foods, reducing the consumption of sweets. Smokers should give up this habit.
The diet should be rich in foods containing vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6, iron, phosphorus. Therefore, the menu is recommended to be, including eggs, dairy products, butter, liver, tomatoes, green peas, vegetable oil, cabbage, carrots, apples, citrus fruits, berries, black currants, rose hips, almonds, peanuts, walnuts.
In order to prevent the occurrence of disease in the branch udder, it is recommended to always adhere to special personal hygiene, try not to wear clothes made of synthetic fabrics that impede movement, and also not to overcool and overheat. With existing problems with being overweight, any low-calorie diet is recommended to normalize weight. You should also abandon perfumes and cosmetics, since in most cases they provoke the occurrence of the disease of the bough udder.