Although we know that people sweat when they are hot, and that adults and children all sweat, but it is still unavoidable to worry when you see your baby always sweating profusely while sleeping. Is this a disease? any questions? Why do babies sweat when sleeping? Let’s talk about this topic today.
01
Excessive sweating due to non-disease causes
- Metabolism and sweat gland distribution characteristics
Babies have a strong metabolism and are therefore relatively prone to sweating. Their sweat glands are mainly concentrated on the head, so sweating is also concentrated on the head when sleeping, making it look like they are sweating profusely.
- Deep sleep state
A child’s sleep consists of sleep cycles, and each sleep cycle contains deep sleep and light sleep. Some babies may sweat more when they are in deep sleep.
- Sleeping posture related
When adults feel hot while sleeping, they may turn over and switch to the other side if one side is too hot. But for babies, their sleeping positions change less than adults. When you sleep in a certain position for a long time and start to feel hot, you may dissipate heat through sweating.
- High room temperature and excessive wearing of covers lead to overheating
Hot weather, strenuous exercise, and wearing too many covers can all cause people to sweat, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. Sweating is the body’s self-regulatory mechanism. Sweating can dissipate heat and prevent the body from overheating.
Therefore, children will sweat more when the room temperature is too high and they wear too many covers. The judgment of whether the room temperature is high and whether there is enough clothing or not must be based on the actual situation of the child, rather than on the self-perception of adults or elders.
Everyone experiences temperature differently. For example, if the air conditioner is turned on at 27 degrees in summer, adults may think it is just right, but the children will be sweating profusely from the heat; if the air conditioner is turned on at 24 degrees, the children will be comfortable, but the adults will be wrapped in blankets from the cold.
Therefore, if your child sweats a lot while sleeping, first check whether the room temperature is appropriate and whether the covering is appropriate. Don’t think that if adults are not hot, children will not be hot. If the child is hot or not, you can touch the child’s chest or back of the neck. If it feels dry and warm, it’s just right. If it feels warm to the touch, moist, or even flushed and short of breath, it means you are overheated and wear less coverings as soon as possible.
Overheating is very dangerous for children, such as increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fever syndrome, which may endanger the child’s life.
02
Excessive sweating due to disease
The room is not hot and the child is not wearing much clothing. The child still sweats a lot when sleeping and can soak his pajamas and sheets. Another condition is night sweats. Night sweats can occur in both adults and children.
A study published in 2012 statistically analyzed data from 6,381 children aged 7.7-10.7 years old and found that 11.7% (747) of the children had experienced night sweats in the past 12 months, with boys more likely to have it than girls. Night sweats. This study also found that children who experience night sweats are more likely to be hyperactive and have frequent emotional outbursts.
In addition, children’s night sweats are significantly related to: younger age, allergic rhinitis, tonsillitis, obstructive sleep apnea-related symptoms, insomnia, parasomnia, etc.
Of course, this is just a research finding. You can read it for interest and just keep informed. In most cases, it is normal for children to sweat while sleeping, but in a small number of cases, it may be related to diseases. For example, children with infectious diseases, heart disease, sleep apnea, thyroid problems, etc. may also experience excessive sweating while sleeping. .
For parents, the most meaningful thing they can do is to observe. If a child’s excessive sweating while sleeping is related to a disease, then in addition to excessive sweating, there are often other abnormal symptoms, such as:
1) If it is due to infection, in addition to excessive sweating, there may also be fever, rash, cough, etc.;
2) If it is due to obstructive sleep apnea, your breathing may pause for 10 seconds or more while sleeping, and you may sweat profusely and may become cyanotic;
3) If it is due to heart problems, in addition to obvious sweating during sleep, you may sweat a lot when you are awake, during parent-child interactions, etc.;
4) If it is caused by cancer such as leukemia, hematology tests and other tests will show various abnormalities;
…
When observing children, we always have a bottom line in mind: If the child is in good overall mental state, good mood, has satisfactory height, weight, growth and development and other physical examination results, and eats, drinks, poops, sleeps and plays normally, then don’t put too much pressure on yourself first. , don’t scare yourself, let alone let your children take various medicines because of your own anxiety.
If during the observation process it is found that the child sweats a lot while sleeping and has other unusual symptoms, then go to the hospital in time and find a reliable doctor to take a look and rest assured as soon as possible.
Summer is here, and many parents may be worried about their children sweating a lot while sleeping. I hope today’s sharing will give everyone some peace of mind.
- So HK, Li AM, Au CT, Zhang J, Lau J, Fok TF, Wing YK. Night sweats in children: prevalence and associated factors. Arch Dis Child. 2012 May;97(5):470-3. doi: 10.1136/adc.2010.199638. Epub 2011 Mar 22. PMID: 21427123.
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/night-sweats/
- https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/abq4491
