Mastitis in children from birth to 17 years

Twenty-two cases of mastitis were evaluated between 1995 and 2003. Nine of the children were younger than 2 months of age, and 12 were older than 8 years of age. Girls accounted for 82% of the cases. Seven of the infections were true abscesses. Pathogens included Staphylococcus aureus in 5, Gram-negative bacilli in 3, group A Streptococcus in 1 and enterococcus in 1. These data suggest that mastitis in children occurs in 2 distinct age groups, neonates and pubescent/postpubescent; however, the clinical disease is similar in both populations.