Candida infection is also known as candidiasis and thrush. While a topical candida infection can cause nipple and breast pain in the breastfeeding woman, there may be other causes for this pain, as candida infections are often misdiagnosed.
It is important to conduct a thorough assessment before treatment to rule out other possible causes for nipple pain, such as vasospasms, dermatitis, subacute mastitis, etc.
There is controversy concerning the diagnosis of candida infections of the breast; a need for further research has been identified. Deep breast pain without visible evidence of candida is likely not a candida infection. If there is no visual evidence of candida on the breast, other causes of pain should be explored.
