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Sweating is heavy perspiration which can happen at night, or
even when the room is cool. It can be heavy enough to soak a person's
clothes. Such sweating is common when a fever breaks. You may notice
sweating happens a short time after the person has shaking chills (see
section on fever).
You can have a fever with or without a known infection.
Sometimes no fever is detected, only the sweating that goes along with
a drop or break in fever.
What to look for
- Feeling wet or damp during the night, or waking
up to find sheets damp
- Fever, followed by heavy sweating as
the body temperature goes back down
- Shaking chills
- Drenching sweats even when there
is no fever
What the patient can do
- Take medicine to reduce fever, such as Tylenol®,
but only if instructed by the doctor or nurse.
- Dress in 2
layers of clothing. The layer on the outside will act as a wick to pull
moisture up and away from the skin.
- Change wet clothes as
quickly as possible.
- Keep bed linens dry.
- Bathe
at least once a day to soothe skin and to maintain good hygiene.
What caregivers can do
- Help the patient keep clothes and bed linens
dry.
- Check the patient's temperature several times a day to find
out if there is fever. Wait 10 -15 minutes after the patient eats or
drinks to check temperature.
- Offer extra liquids to replace fluid that is lost through
sweat.
- For comfort, try to help with tub bath or shower if patient
is able.
Call the doctor if the patient:
- becomes dehydrated from frequent soaking sweats
(see the section on fluids
and dehydration)
- has fever of 100.5° F or higher (taken by mouth)
for
more than 24 hours
- has tremors or shaking chills
Go to a list of symptoms to find
other problems in Caring for the
Patient with Cancer at Home: A Guide for Patients and Families.
Revised: 04/07/08
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