Causes excessive sweating in a child's sleep

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Causes, diagnosis and treatment of excessive sweating in a child's sleep
What worries many mothers is that their babies sweat a lot at night. Of course, this situation is very common, and if you put the child to bed, you will see that his clothes and bed sheets are wet due to sweating.
However, there is no need to worry in such a situation, for children it is a physiological process. Occasionally, excessive sweating may be due to a child's fever or some nervous system problem. It should also be noted that the overactivity of the sweat glands can be a sign of some diseases.
To determine the cause of excessive sweating in children during sleep, they first need to get acquainted with the structure and physiology of the body.
Excessive sweating during sleep in children: a physiological process!
First of all, it is important to know that sweating is normal for people of any age, and in this way the body maintains a normal body temperature. In children, sweating during sleep is more common due to incomplete function of the sweat glands and poor development of the thermoregulatory center.
The active function of the sweat glands begins in the 3rd week of life. However, full formation occurs at the age of 5-6 years. Excessive sweating during sleep at night is most common in children under 3 years of age. This condition is rarely reported when a child is over 4 years of age.
The function of the sweat glands is not only to cool the body, but also to remove toxins that have accumulated in the body, and this process is carried out in conjunction with the nervous system.
Excessive sweating during sleep: a pathological process
Many experts believe that children sweat a lot:
  • Sweating of the child as a result of high room temperature or hot weather;
  • During the day, the child's emotional state, agitation, and nervous system disorders cause excessive sweating at night;
  • In cases such as colds;
  • Hereditary predisposition.
Excessive sweating can also be caused by certain illnesses, which can include:
  • Vitamin D deficiency and rickets;
  • Apnea;
  • Defects in thyroid function;
  • Problems with the liver and gastrointestinal tract;
  • Cardiovascular diseases;
  • Changes in the immune system.
The child overheats
From the 3rd week of life, the baby begins to be exposed to ambient temperatures. Warm air activates the child's thermoregulatory center. By the age of 5-6, the child is very sensitive to hot air, and the body may become agitated and sweaty.
Why do children sweat a lot during sleep?
Pediatricians explain this by saying that children's sweating during the day evaporates quickly, and children spend most of their energy during the day. Sweat glands are also active at night, but the child does not actively use its energy, so the secreted sweat does not evaporate, but accumulates in the body.
Another reason for a child to sweat a lot is to wrap the baby in a very thick cloth. Many mothers wrap their babies in very thick cloths before going to bed or wear seasonal clothes for fear of catching a cold, which can cause the baby's body to overheat and suffer from excessive sweating. Here are some things to keep children warm and sweaty:
The optimum temperature in the children's room should be 18-21 degrees, and the humidity should be 50-60%. Dry air also activates the work of sweat glands. It is necessary to quickly ventilate the room where the child sleeps: 10-20 times a day for 3-4 minutes.
Children should be dressed at room temperature. It is recommended that the fabric be natural and breathable.
Strong excitation of the nervous system
In the first year of a child's life, the nervous system becomes very excited. During the day, the child adapts to the world around him, gets a lot of emotions, a lot of impressions, learns new skills, so the nervous system is very strong. Even when a child sleeps at night, his nervous system can be active. This causes an increase in sweating during sleep.
There are several ways to reduce a child's nervous system tension and sweating, including:
  • In the evening, reduce the use of firewood and television, and read books or play light games instead;
  • Try taking a short walk with the baby in the fresh air before bed;
  • Gently massaging the baby also calms the baby and keeps him awake;
  • Before going to bed, bathe the child in warm water with soothing herbs;
Active growth of the child's nervous system also increases sweating during sleep, which is a normal physiological condition.
Diseases such as colds
Even if a child sleeps in optimal conditions, he sweats a lot during sleep, which indicates a pathological process in the body, which is often the case with colds.
Excessive sweating means that the child's body is trying to rid itself of unwanted substances and toxins. Inflammation can also be accompanied by fever, cough, shortness of breath, weakness, or latent symptoms - mothers only notice that their children are sweating profusely.
If you suspect or suspect that your child is sweating a lot during sleep, consult a doctor immediately. To alleviate the condition, simply give the child more fluids.
The role of hereditary factor in multiple sweating
Excessive sweating is rarely passed from generation to generation. If the cause of excessive sweating in a child is genetically determined, the child may experience excessive sweating at any time of the day, not just during sleep. In this case, to alleviate the situation, it is necessary to eliminate the factors that increase sweating:
  • Playing games with the child that do not require active movement;
  • Ensuring that the child is not stressed;
  • Bathing a child in herbal water (romashka, calendula, sagebrush and others).
Excessive sweating during sleep: due to serious illness
In rare cases, however, the most common condition is that the child sweats a lot during sleep, which can lead to serious illness. Only a doctor can diagnose the pathology, and in addition to excessive sweating, there are other symptoms.
In addition to vitamin D deficiency and rickets, the child sweats a lot and has the following symptoms:
  • Sweat is thick and has a distinctive odor;
  • Hair loss in the nape of the neck ("horseshoe");
  • The child is always restless and agitated;
  • The child often wakes up during sleep.
If the child has excessive sweating and any of the above symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. If the treatment is not started on time, the child may become disabled.
A pathological condition such as apnea is life-threatening for the child. In this case, the child may also have the following symptoms:
  • The boy trembles during sleep;
  • The child breathes heavily during sleep and snorts;
  • Sleep disturbances and various dreams;
  • Weakness of the child during the day, inability of the child to concentrate;
Diseases of the cardiovascular system are characterized by the following symptoms:
  • Cold sweat discharge;
  • Panting;
  • Cold hands.
Occasionally, excessive sweating is a sign of thyroid dysfunction, and the following symptoms may occur:
  • Decreased appetite;
  • Acceleration of heartbeat;
  • Rapid fatigue and weakness;
  • Variability of the child's mood;
  • Frequent urination at night;
  • The squeaking of the lids.
Increased sweating during sleep and the appearance of additional symptoms may be a good reason to see a doctor.
Never try to treat a child independently at home when the child's health and life are important!

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