Some Causes of Generalized Sweating
Type | Examples |
|---|---|
Cancer* | Lymphoma, leukemia (particularly causing night sweats), adrenal tumors |
Central nervous system | Trauma†, autonomic neuropathy |
Medications and other substances | Antidepressants, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hypoglycemic agents, caffeine, theophylline, opioid withdrawal |
Endocrine disorders | Hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, excessive secretion of sex hormones caused by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists |
Idiopathic | — |
Infections* | Tuberculosis, endocarditis, systemic fungal infections |
Other | Carcinoid syndrome, pregnancy, menopause, anxiety, fever |
* Primarily nocturnal generalized sweating (night sweats). † Frey syndrome is a disorder that results from aberrant regeneration of parasympathetic nerve fibers after damage to the auriculotemporal nerve, most commonly from carotid surgery. Misdirected parasympathetic fibers re-innervate cutaneous sweat glands and blood vessels instead of the parotid gland, causing sweating, flushing, and warmth in the preauricular region during eating. | |