Night Sweats Causes and Diagnosis

Common Causes of Night Sweats

Tuberculosis is a common cause of night sweats, often accompanied by persistent cough, weight loss, and loss of appetite, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1, 2
Menopause is a common cause of night sweats in women, often accompanied by vaginal dryness and sexual dysfunction, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 3

A detailed history of night sweats, including frequency, severity, and associated symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and cough, is essential for diagnosis, as recommended by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2, 4
Tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay should be considered in patients with a high risk of tuberculosis, as recommended by the CDC 1
HIV testing should be considered in high-risk individuals, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Intestinal tuberculosis PCR test and intestinal biopsy should be considered in patients with suspected intestinal tuberculosis, as recommended by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) 5

Patients with a high risk of tuberculosis, such as those with a history of tuberculosis, contact with drug-resistant tuberculosis cases, or residence in a high-prevalence area, should be particularly vigilant, as recommended by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 6, 7

Menopausal symptoms affect approximately 46-73% of female cancer survivors and 50-80% of men receiving androgen deprivation therapy, according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 8

Cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors or androgen deprivation therapy commonly experience night sweats as treatment-related menopausal symptoms, as reported by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 8