Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Excessive Sweating?
Question: My son is 49 - he is currently renting a dairy farm, starting out small with around 35 milk cows - he sweats all day every day excessively, at nite when he goes to bed, he has A/C unit in bedroom and it is cool but he will wake up soaking wet from sweating - h e has seen his doctor and is to get some blood tests, but what would make him sweat so bad, otherwise he is healthy, not overweight, eats pretty good
Brief Answer:
detailed evaluation needed
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for posting your concern in the HCM.
Drenching sweat throughout the day, and particularly at night warrants immediate attention and detailed clinical evaluation.
This may be due to infective conditions, e.g. tuberculosis, brucellosis, HIV, or some bacterial infection, malignancies, e.g. lymphoma, endocrinal problems, e.g. hyperthyroidism, carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, neurologic disorder, functional problems, sleep cycle disorder, substance abuse or idiopathic. As he has not been taking any medications, no medicine can be incriminated. Brucellosis should be a particular consideration in his case, because he is closely related to a dairy farm and brucellosis occurs from ingestion of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat. However, all other causes also need to be excluded.
I need following information for evaluation of history-
1. Does he have any history of fever? If yes, please specify the duration, peak temperature and whether the temperature touches baseline at any point of time in a day.
2. Since when is he having the sweating symptoms?
3. Is there any history of joint pain?
4. Is there any history of cough and weight loss ?
5. How are his bladder & bowel habits?
6. Is there any history of hot flush, palpitations, tremor?
7. Is there any past history of any surgery, tuberculosis, or any major illness in the past?
8. Is he having diabetes or hypertension or thyroid disease?
9. Please mention his height, weight, blood pressure and pulse count.
The following investigations also need to be done-
Blood for complete blood count, CRP, urea, creatinine, electrolytes, blood culture, LFT, Fasting TSH, HbA1c, HIV testing.
Chest Xray- PA view
Urine for routine examination. 24 hr urine for creatinine, total catecholamine, VMA and metanephrine and 5-HIAA.
Imaging studies may be done later on, based on the history and findings in initial investigations, if necessary.
For the time being, he should follow the below mentioned advice-
Plenty of oral fluid , about 3 to 4 lit./day
High fibre diet
Avoid stress and have relaxation session every day.
Daily exercise for 30 min.
He should be examined by a local internal medicine doctor at the earliest as well.
For any further information, please write back with the above mentioned information. If you are satisfied with the answer, please close the thread and rate my answer.
Regards,
Dr. Kaushik
detailed evaluation needed
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for posting your concern in the HCM.
Drenching sweat throughout the day, and particularly at night warrants immediate attention and detailed clinical evaluation.
This may be due to infective conditions, e.g. tuberculosis, brucellosis, HIV, or some bacterial infection, malignancies, e.g. lymphoma, endocrinal problems, e.g. hyperthyroidism, carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, neurologic disorder, functional problems, sleep cycle disorder, substance abuse or idiopathic. As he has not been taking any medications, no medicine can be incriminated. Brucellosis should be a particular consideration in his case, because he is closely related to a dairy farm and brucellosis occurs from ingestion of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat. However, all other causes also need to be excluded.
I need following information for evaluation of history-
1. Does he have any history of fever? If yes, please specify the duration, peak temperature and whether the temperature touches baseline at any point of time in a day.
2. Since when is he having the sweating symptoms?
3. Is there any history of joint pain?
4. Is there any history of cough and weight loss ?
5. How are his bladder & bowel habits?
6. Is there any history of hot flush, palpitations, tremor?
7. Is there any past history of any surgery, tuberculosis, or any major illness in the past?
8. Is he having diabetes or hypertension or thyroid disease?
9. Please mention his height, weight, blood pressure and pulse count.
The following investigations also need to be done-
Blood for complete blood count, CRP, urea, creatinine, electrolytes, blood culture, LFT, Fasting TSH, HbA1c, HIV testing.
Chest Xray- PA view
Urine for routine examination. 24 hr urine for creatinine, total catecholamine, VMA and metanephrine and 5-HIAA.
Imaging studies may be done later on, based on the history and findings in initial investigations, if necessary.
For the time being, he should follow the below mentioned advice-
Plenty of oral fluid , about 3 to 4 lit./day
High fibre diet
Avoid stress and have relaxation session every day.
Daily exercise for 30 min.
He should be examined by a local internal medicine doctor at the earliest as well.
For any further information, please write back with the above mentioned information. If you are satisfied with the answer, please close the thread and rate my answer.
Regards,
Dr. Kaushik
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
