Sweating is heavy perspiration that 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 the 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 your 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 the fluid that is lost through sweat.
• For comfort, offer to help the patient with a tub bath or shower if needed.

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 (when taken by mouth) for more than 24 hours
• Has tremors or shaking chills

Go back to Caring for the Patient with Cancer at Home: A Guide for Patients and Families.

Last Medical Review: 04/27/2009
Last Revised: 04/27/2009