How long may symptoms of mastitis last in nursing mothers?

Mastitis in nursing mothers typically involves inflammation of the breast tissue, which can lead to pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and flu-like symptoms, including fever and chills. The duration of symptoms can vary widely due to factors such as the severity of the condition and the timeliness of treatment.

In many cases, with early intervention and appropriate treatment—such as antibiotic therapy and continued breastfeeding or pumping to relieve engorgement—the symptoms may resolve relatively quickly, often within a few hours to about a week. If left untreated or if the condition is more severe, it may last longer and lead to complications, but in its typical presentation, the resolution tends to occur in that shorter timeframe.

Thus, the timeframe of a few hours to a week is recognized as a common duration for symptoms of mastitis among nursing mothers, aligning well with the typical management strategies seen in practice.