Night sweats are a common complaint among the many thousands of sufferers of this medical condition, yet information on the subject is very scarce. In some cases, night sweats are so severe that the sufferer wakes up to find himself drenched in sweat with a change of bedclothes needed. For the majority of sufferers though, night sweats are more likely to consist of waking up with fever like symptoms, such as excessive heat and perspiration.

There are numerous reasons why a person may suffer from night sweats. They range from the less serious, such as travelling in a different country or alcohol intake, to the more difficult to evaluate, such as infections including tuberculosis or HIV. Prescription drugs can also contribute to the complaint, and if night sweats suddenly occur after starting any new medication, a doctor should be consulted immediately. As there is not a vast amount of data available on the condition, a doctor must consider many factors when trying to determine the cause of night sweats. He will first start with a thorough medical exam, including dietary and liquid intake, and ask questions about the patient's family medical history to evaluate if the complaint can be traced back genetically.

The reason why people may suffer from night sweats can sometimes be traced to many everyday factors. If a patient is overweight or suffers from sleeping problems, heartburn, indigestion or diabetes, these issues can all contribute to the problem of night sweats. Many menopausal women or those on a treatment of hormone replacement therapy also find themselves suffering from the condition. Pregnant women may also experience night sweats, although they are usually sporadic and disappear soon after the birth.

It is sometimes not as clear cut a case as it may seem for a physician to determine the cause of night sweats, and although the symptoms are commonly encountered in the medical world, there is no data regarding its actual frequency. If a physical and history exam of the patient do not reveal a possible diagnosis, then the physician will move onto more in-depth tests such as blood counts, virus and thyroid tests, chest radiographs and possibly even a bone marrow biopsy. As with all medical complaints, a doctor will use his experience and deductive skills to try to ascertain the causes of night sweats. However, due to the lack of information regarding the symptoms and causes of the complaint, the patient should be aware it might be a lengthy process.