What is a symptom that typically accompanies acute mastitis in breastfeeding mothers?

Acute mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue that results in breast pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. The hallmark symptom associated with acute mastitis is the presence of a hard, red, and tender area of the breast. This localized inflammation is indicative of infection and often occurs in conjunction with other systemic symptoms, such as fever and malaise. The tenderness and hardness in the affected area are a direct result of the inflammatory process that occurs during the infection as well as the accumulation of milk, which can lead to engorgement and increased pressure.

The other symptoms and conditions listed do not accurately reflect the characteristic presentation of acute mastitis. Soft breast tissue is more typical of normal conditions or non-infected breasts. Persistent fever without local tenderness may suggest a different underlying condition and does not align with the localized symptoms seen in mastitis. Pain only during breastfeeding can occur for various reasons, such as latch issues or nipple pain, but does not specifically indicate the presence of mastitis, where symptoms are more prominent even when not breastfeeding.