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What Causes Night Sweats While Eating To Recover From Anorexia?
Question: my daughter, 20 may have been anorexic lost 20-30 pounds at end of semester down to 118 and she is 5 foot 6. Came back home and started eating again after about 3 weeks home and has put on about 5-6 pounds. She has in the last 3 weeks experienced night sweats. A lot of literature out there on anorexic conditions and refeeding says the night sweats are a good indicator that the body is getting healthier and metabolism is firing again. However, we also see that night sweats can be a sign of lymphoma. As to that, she had a chest xray which was normal and no signs of lymph node swelling and belly was soft. Bloodwork was all normal as well (but wondering if we should have seen some malnutrition signs in bloodwork as well?).
Brief Answer:
Yes night sweats are indicator of good metabolism
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. She has lost significant weight in last semester and was not maintaining her weight. First thing you should ascertain in her considering her age is if she was having her meals at right time. If she had any issues related to appearance of body. If she has liking of thinness to anorexia nervosa levels?
If she was not taking proper nutrition and has lost weight in order to look lean and thin then most likely her weight loss occurred due to anorexia.
She has started regaining weight on coming to home and this also rules out any serious diagnosis.
Lymphoma can cause weight loss but as her X rays and blood work are fine so no need to worry. She has not shown any other significant symptoms (you haven't mentioned it) so the possibility is very unlikely.
Other rare possibility considering her weight loss is some worm infestation if she was in hostel. But if there is no history of pain abdomen then it can be ruled out easily.
One possibility that should be ruled out is thyroid abnormalities especially hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism individuals show loss of weight despite good nutrition. Night sweats are also common occurrence in hyperthyroidism. So get her thyroid hormone levels checked to rule out the condition.
Other possibilities considering her symptoms like night sweats is nutritional deficiencies is Vitamin B12 deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia. In both conditions individuals show night sweats. So get her B12 levels checked to rule out the condition.
Tuberculosis is also an important cause of night sweats and weight loss but the disease is not common in developed nations. Secondly her chest radiograph and blood work are fine so we can rule out this diagnosis easily.
In most teenagers weight loss can be considered as normal even it it was significant. She is recovering from weight loss and due to increased metabolism she is showing symptoms like night sweats. So no need to worry, remain relaxed. Her investigations came normal and she is absolutely fine.
Thanks, I hope this helps you. If you have more doubts please don't hesitate to ask a follow up question.
Take care
Yes night sweats are indicator of good metabolism
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. She has lost significant weight in last semester and was not maintaining her weight. First thing you should ascertain in her considering her age is if she was having her meals at right time. If she had any issues related to appearance of body. If she has liking of thinness to anorexia nervosa levels?
If she was not taking proper nutrition and has lost weight in order to look lean and thin then most likely her weight loss occurred due to anorexia.
She has started regaining weight on coming to home and this also rules out any serious diagnosis.
Lymphoma can cause weight loss but as her X rays and blood work are fine so no need to worry. She has not shown any other significant symptoms (you haven't mentioned it) so the possibility is very unlikely.
Other rare possibility considering her weight loss is some worm infestation if she was in hostel. But if there is no history of pain abdomen then it can be ruled out easily.
One possibility that should be ruled out is thyroid abnormalities especially hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism individuals show loss of weight despite good nutrition. Night sweats are also common occurrence in hyperthyroidism. So get her thyroid hormone levels checked to rule out the condition.
Other possibilities considering her symptoms like night sweats is nutritional deficiencies is Vitamin B12 deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia. In both conditions individuals show night sweats. So get her B12 levels checked to rule out the condition.
Tuberculosis is also an important cause of night sweats and weight loss but the disease is not common in developed nations. Secondly her chest radiograph and blood work are fine so we can rule out this diagnosis easily.
In most teenagers weight loss can be considered as normal even it it was significant. She is recovering from weight loss and due to increased metabolism she is showing symptoms like night sweats. So no need to worry, remain relaxed. Her investigations came normal and she is absolutely fine.
Thanks, I hope this helps you. If you have more doubts please don't hesitate to ask a follow up question.
Take care
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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