What Causes Excessive Sweating?

Fever

A fever is often part of the body's attempt to rid itself of an infection, and it can develop in response to common infections such as colds, ear infections, mononucleosis, and strep throat. Symptoms associated with fevers include sweating, chills, aches, lack of energy, and flushing of the skin. During a fever, a patient's body temperature is increased above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Low-grade fevers of less than 101 degrees Fahrenheit do not normally require medical treatment. Instead, patients typically benefit from resting at home, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking an over-the-counter fever reducer. If a fever lasts longer than two days or is accompanied by a stiff neck, rash, sensitivity to light, confusion, or seizures, patients should seek care in the emergency room. In addition, a fever that remains at 103 degrees Fahrenheit or above for longer than two hours requires emergency treatment.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition that can lead to excessive sweating because of metabolic disturbances. The thyroid is responsible for making hormones that help regulate metabolism, and when an individual has hyperthyroidism, their body creates too many of these hormones. This leads to an increase in metabolism, which can cause a fast or irregular heartbeat alongside unexplained weight loss. The condition can be treated with a variety of different methods.

The first line of treatment is usually anti-thyroid medication, which can slow the progression of the thyroid's hormone creation. Radioactive iodine is also used to destroy excess thyroid cells, but it can cause enough damage to lead to an underactive thyroid. If radioactive iodine and anti-thyroid medications aren't helping enough, patients might need surgery to remove a portion or all of their thyroid gland. After patients have this surgery, they'll use supplemental thyroid medications to create the hormonal balance they're no longer getting from their thyroid gland.