Heat concerns, my son doesn't sweat

[MrsCWillcox2012]

Hi, not sure if anyone can advise me but we moved to Malta last year and now summer has hit I have noticed that while my 5 year old daughter sweats in the heat like myself and SO do my 9 year old son doesnt appear to sweat, he has already suffered head rushes and vomiting once this year, (due to lack of fluids i assumed) but could his not sweating cause him to suffer in the heat more than those that do sweat?

Please any advice will be appreciated

Concerned mummy

A close family member has a condition which means they can't sweat and heat is a problem. They basically have to keep out of the sun, always wear a hat, drink plenty of water, have access to a fan if they're going to be somewhere warm like a classroom. All the stuff that is pretty much common sense really but just more so. If they overheat it causes a meltdown like a massive temper tantrum but it's out of their control. It's just a case of being constantly on the watch.

Cold weather is a problem too although not as much.

They also have those cold water sprays and cooling towels, plus a fairly powerful fan in their bedroom. Last year was a nightmare for them, as you can imagine.

My friend’s DM has the no sweating thing, and she does have to be very careful.
I would go to see your GP and see what they say.

Thanks I think I will go to a doctor, as we live in Malta avoiding heat is impossible but want to avoid as much discomfort for him as possible

Just curious, in what way is the cold an issue?

I was in primary school with a lad that couldn't sweat. The school really looked after him, considering it was the 70's, think it's quite serious.

He would suffer more as sweating is a mechanism the body uses to cool itself. So he would overheat much more easily if he actually doesn’t sweat. You should get him seen.

Thanks everyone appreciate it, will definately get him seen

If he’s dehydrated He won’t sweat either. Need to make sure he’s drinking plenty of water

Yeah the fluids are a challenge but we have a new game that we play every hour to race to drink, this seems to work as gets him to drink regularly