Patient's question:
Daughter is almost 6 years old. Since she was young, she has been sweating a lot at night while sleeping, and her two feet are always rubbing together forcefully. She also tosses and turns in bed a lot. During the day, she is very lively and shows no problems, and her eating habits are also normal. Why does it feel a bit off at night? What could be the reason? Is it serious?What problems can occur when sweating a lot at night?
Doctor's answer:
It is normal for children to sweat while sleeping, as their sweat glands are more developed. Sweat secretion is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (vagus nerve). When asleep, the vagus nerve becomes excited, leading to increased sweating, usually more on the head and face, but it typically subsides within one to two hours. If sweating persists after sleeping and is in large amounts, it could be a sign of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and in some cases, it may be due to calcium deficiency. As long as the child is growing and developing well and is in good health, there is no need to worry.