Athelia
Athelia, a congenital condition, is the absence of the nipple and areola on a child’s breast.
What is athelia?
Athelia is a rare, congenital (present at birth) condition in which a child’s breast doesn’t properly develop and is missing the nipple and areola (small ring around the nipple). It can occur on one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) breasts.
What are the signs and symptoms of athelia?
The main sign of athelia is a breast with no nipple and areola. Additional symptoms may develop if the child has a genetic condition, which will be specific to that disease.
What are the causes of athelia?
Athelia can be caused by several genetic conditions that affect a child’s DNA and development.
This may include:
- Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia - A genetic condition that can also impact the development or function of the hair, nails, sweat glands and teeth
- Poland syndrome (Poland sequence) - A rare birth defect that causes underdevelopment or absence of the chest muscle
- Yunis-Varon syndrome - A genetic condition that also affects the nervous system, skeletal system and ectodermal tissues (hair and teeth).
