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Is breast feeding with nipple eczema harmful?

Dr Sangeeta Saxena
Assistant Commissioner (Child Health), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
Govternment of India

Q: Is breast feeding with nipple eczema harmful to the infant?

A:You have not stated the age of the infant. The skin around the nipple must be cleaned with warm water and cotton to remove all traces of the ointment/medication and then the breast milk expressed in a pre boiled cup/katori and fed with a spoon to the infant. The infant must not be denied the advantages of breast milk because of a skin infection. The breast milk will NOT transmit eczema to the infant.