What causes hyperhidrosis in children?

It is not uncommon for child to sweat during the night. When the sweating is severe, it is referred to a condition known as hyperhidrosis. There are numerous causes of excessive sweating amongst children during the night.

Below are some of the most common causes of hyperhidrosis in children.

Obesity

Children who are severely overweight can be prone to sweating profusely at night as well as during the day. Carrying extra weight and a lack of physical activity can cause obese children to sweat heavily.

Though not all sweating is weight-related and can often be the sign of a medical condition.

Fever

If a child is feverish, the body temperature often increases, leading to excessive sweating, particularly during the night.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) results from the infection of bacteria which is transmitted through the air by an infected person. TB usually affects the lungs, though it can affect other organs in the body as well.

One common symptom of TB in both children and adults is excessive sweating, which is usually the result of changes in the body’s thermoregulatory system. Night sweating in TB patients is also believed to be the result of the production of cytokine by specific cells of the immune system.

Cancer

Hyperhidrosis can also occur in the early stages of cancer with children. Lymphoma is a type of cancer which causes excessive sweating at night.

Emotional conditions

Anxiety, stress and other emotional conditions can lead to children sweating profusely during the night.

Oral medications for excessive sweating in children can be used as a form of treatment, including oxybutynin hydrochloride, glycopyrrolate and propantheline. However, many doctors’ advice that treatment should be more moderate until a child reaches teenage years. If the sweating is caused by an emotional condition, seeking psychological help to address the root of the condition would be advisable.

If you have any queries or concerns about hyperhidrosis and other vascular conditions in children or adults, get in touch with Daryll baker, a Consultant Vascular Surgeon. Daryll Baker runs a vascular practice in both the NHS and privately, helping patients with vascular conditions from across Europe and the Middle East.