Does HIV infection cause night sweats?

Night sweats are episodes of sweating during sleep that may soak clothing or bedding despite a comfortable room. With HIV, they may occur alongside fever, tiredness, swollen glands, weight loss, or another infection. Similar sweating can be caused by a warm bedroom, hormonal changes, anxiety, medicines, alcohol, low blood sugar, or conditions such as tuberculosis. The pattern and accompanying symptoms help guide assessment; the symptom itself is not a diagnosis.

Record when the sweating began, how often it occurs, whether bedding becomes wet, and any fever, cough, diarrhoea, weight change, or swollen glands. Check the room temperature and review medicines with a clinician rather than stopping them yourself. If HIV exposure is possible, seek confidential testing and ask when testing and follow-up should occur. If you already have HIV, report new night sweats to your treatment team.

Arrange prompt medical advice when night sweats are recurrent, drenching, or accompanied by fever, cough, breathlessness, persistent diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, or swollen glands. Seek urgent care for severe breathing trouble, confusion, fainting, severe weakness, or rapidly worsening illness. Early assessment can identify infections and other causes that need treatment.

Ask which causes fit your pattern, whether HIV or other infection testing is appropriate, and whether any medicine could be contributing. Tell the clinician about possible exposure, travel, fever, cough, weight change, and the effect on your sleep.