9 year old boy night sweats

[Ljd401]

Hello,

My 9 year old son had a drenching night sweat tonight. His pjs were damp and it sent me into a panic. He’s also had a couple of temperatures the past month. Putting that into Google has me worried. I don’t know if they’re linked. I’ll get him checked out but wanted to know if anyone else’s child has night sweats like this,

I struggle with my health anxiety and this has tipped me over.

Thank you.x

It could be that he has a virus- I had a cold/cough recently and night sweats to go with it- sometimes the fever is just evidence that the body is fighting infection. However, I would get him checked to be on the safe side. In the meantime, please don't Google anymore. I have health anxiety too so I know how hard it is.

But there are probably dozens of non-scary explanations as well as the one or two more serious possibilities. Hope you're able to get an appointment soon. 💐

Thank you for your message. He had a temp with a cough the second week of Jan which I thought might be covid because my husband and I were then really poorly with it. But then he also was unwell with a sore throat and temperature 3 weeks later.

He’s always been a bit hot and occasionally sweaty at night but not to this extent.

So sorry that you have health anxiety. It’s awful. I’ve been in floods of tears tonight. Now I can’t sleep :-(

Only just seen your reply- so sorry to hear you were so anxious. Health anxiety is very scary and very difficult to manage 😔 I do hope you got some sleep eventually.

It sounds as though your DS has a virus (or is just recovering from one), in which case, this is the most likely explanation for the sweats. If a person is feverish, they can manage this better in the daytime by removing/adding layers, taking paracetamol etc but in the middle of the night when you're asleep, if you overheat the result is going to be a night sweat.

I would make contact with the GP today and see about an appointment. But please try to reassure yourself that there is a 'most likely' explanation here, and it's not a scary one.

If it turns out to be more complicated then you will cross those bridges when you get to them, but it is very unlikely so in the meantime, no amount of worrying will achieve anything.

I do know how impossible it is to ignore anxiety. When mine is bad, I rely on distraction and keeping busy. 💐

Thanks so much for replying to me. I saw a paramedic (they have them at our doctors…never see a GP these days) and he said my son’s glands are up. Said to bring him back if he has anymore night sweats. I’ve checked him every night and he’s been sweaty but not drenched at the times I have checked him. He’s also coughing more.

I’m worried and think I will take him back.