US Medical Term · symptoms
Night Sweats
Sudoración nocturna
Also: Sudores nocturnos (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Night Sweats |
| Spanish (Español) | Sudoración nocturna |
| Chinese (中文) | 盜汗 |
| Korean (한국어) | 야간 발한 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đổ mồ hôi đêm |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pawis sa gabi |
| Portuguese (Português) | Suores noturnos |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เหงื่อออกตอนกลางคืน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 寝汗 |
What it means
Night sweats are episodes of heavy sweating during sleep that soak clothes and bedding, even when the room is not too warm. They differ from normal warmth-related sweating and often signal an underlying medical cause. Common causes include menopause, low blood sugar, hyperthyroidism, infections such as tuberculosis and HIV, certain cancers including lymphoma, and medications such as antidepressants. Night sweats that are persistent, severe, or accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, or fatigue should be evaluated by a doctor promptly. They are usually not a 911 emergency but indicate that a medical workup is needed.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I wake up completely soaked in sweat several times a night even though the bedroom is cool.
Me despierto completamente empapado en sudor varias veces por noche aunque el dormitorio esté fresco.
I have been having night sweats along with unexplained weight loss for the past month.
He tenido sudoración nocturna junto con pérdida de peso inexplicable durante el último mes.
My night sweats started when I began taking a new antidepressant medication.
Los sudores nocturnos comenzaron cuando empecé a tomar un nuevo medicamento antidepresivo.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R61 Generalized hyperhidrosisRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026