Is lactation mastitis and shooting breast pain experienced by women during lactation caused by Candida albicans?

The evidence relating Candida albicans with deep breast pain suffered by sonic women during breast feeding is reviewed. There is little direct evidence to support the aetiological role of Candida albicans in this condition, and therefore the prescription of fluconazole (an antifungal drug) to lactating women with deep breast pain as suggested by a number of authors of studies on this subject cannot be justified unless as part of a clinical trial. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.