Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0

DESCRIPTION

The parent may be concerned because a child has a wet pillow after naps. Sometimes the entire bed is wet, since sweat glands are found throughout the body's surface. Neither example is necessarily abnormal.

Your adolescent may be unduly worried about underarm perspiration. Teenagers may be reassured that sweating normally increases with exercise and tension, and this is never abnormal.

SIMILAR CONDITIONS

Sweating occurs with fever, so take your child's temperature.

If your child has a fever, see Fever.

CAUSES

The purpose of sweating is to cool off the body by evaporation. The most common cause of sweating is overheating due to hot weather, a hot room, overdressing, or too many blankets. When a child is covered up in bed, the only way to release heat is through the head. Night sweats in a child who is otherwise well mean nothing. Some parents worry unduly about diseases from another era (such as tuberculosis and malaria).

HOME CARE

Turn down the heat in your home. Dress your child in lighter clothing for naps. Offer your child extra fluids in hot weather to prevent dehydration. Adolescents, of course, need to be introduced to underarm antiperspirants/deodorants to prevent body odor.

CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN DURING OFFICE HOURS IF:

• Your child is under 2 months old.
• Your child has unexplained fevers (over 100 degrees F, or 37.8 degrees C).
• Your child has unexplained weight loss.
• You have other questions or concerns.