Pediatric mastitis: what parents should know

Mastitis can affect an infant or child as a tender, red, warm, or swollen area around the breast or nipple. A small breast bud can also be a normal developmental finding, so a clinician may need to distinguish normal tissue from inflammation. Fever, discharge, increasing redness, or a child who seems unwell makes infection more concerning. Do not squeeze the breast or try to drain it at home, as pressure can injure tissue and worsen inflammation.

Arrange a medical assessment, especially for a newborn or young infant. Note when the change began, whether it is spreading, and whether the child has fever, feeding difficulty, or fewer wet nappies. Keep clothing loose over the area and offer normal feeds. Use only medicine recommended for the child’s age and weight. A clinician may examine the skin, check for a collection, and prescribe treatment when bacterial infection is suspected.

Seek urgent medical help if the child is very young and has a temperature, is difficult to wake, feeds poorly, vomits repeatedly, has breathing difficulty, or appears unusually pale or floppy. Prompt review is also needed when redness spreads quickly, the breast becomes very tense, pus appears, or pain is worsening. Do not wait for a home treatment to work when the child’s overall condition is changing.

Ask whether the finding is mastitis or a normal breast bud, whether an ultrasound or medicine is needed, and how to monitor the area. Ask which temperature method is appropriate and exactly when to return if redness, swelling, or feeding changes continue.