Night sweat on the upper body

There are many sweat glands on the upper body, which is why sweat can literally drip from the body. This is the case when there are real sweats or night sweats. The latter can occur for a variety of reasons and usually affects more than just one part of the body.

Typically, the upper body is almost always affected by night sweats. Especially the V-shaped area of the chest and shoulders sweat particularly heavily, so that typical sweat patches can be found on the nightdress. Hot flushes and sweating usually manifest themselves more strongly on the trunk, i.e. the back and chest, than on the extremities (arms and legs).

They can be caused by various things, such as infections, autoimmune diseases or even cancer. However, you should note that night sweat on the upper body in the true sense of the word means that you have to change your nightgown more than once at night because of all the sweat. Especially in warm outside temperatures it is quite normal that you sweat more on your chest at night. But this is not yet called night sweat.

Night sweat on chest and neck

The chest and neck are very heat-sensitive body regions. In case of high outside temperatures, nervousness or fever, one sweats especially here very strongly. Sweat stains and a dripping neck can be the result.

Night sweat can also appear in these body regions. Especially with a flu or another feverish infection, increased night sweats on the chest and neck are very common. Also strong predominance can lead to increased sweating at chest and neck, which is often very unpleasant for concerning. In the case of very heavy night sweats and accompanying symptoms such as fever, weight loss and indisposition, causes such as cancer or autoimmune diseases must also be considered.

Night sweat only on the legs

Only the legs are rarely affected by night sweat. Night sweat in the narrower sense affects several body regions and is basically never found isolated on the legs. A simple cause for increased night sweating on the legs is too high a temperature in the bedroom.

Those who heat too much or sleep under too thick blankets sweat very quickly at night. Only the legs can be affected, as they are usually covered. A rather rare reason for night sweats on the legs is the so-called restless legs syndrome.

This is a common neurological disorder, but is not always accompanied by night sweats. Typical is an increased urge to move the legs, which increases especially at night and in the evening. Sleep disorders are often accompanied by restless legs syndrome.

In children, similar to adults, night sweats are usually caused by infections. Since the immune system in children is not yet as well developed as in adults, febrile infections are more common in children than in adults, which can be accompanied by night sweats. In an emergency, such an infection is an actual flu, the influenza.

Psychological problems/worries are fortunately relatively rarely the trigger for night sweats in children. Also, as a cause for night sweat in children, one should check the sleeping conditions to see if the child is not wrapped too warm or if the heating is set too high.This is the most common reason for night sweats in children as well as adults, because children are usually more caring and want to protect them from freezing, which is sometimes a bit too much. But serious causes can also be responsible for night sweats in children.

For example, acute lymphatic leukemia, which occurs most often in children. In addition to night sweats, it often manifests itself at first through tiredness, exhaustion, headaches and aching limbs, i.e. flu-like symptoms. Otherwise, with few exceptions (e.g. menopause), the same causes of night sweats as in adults are possible in children.