Night sweats

Differential diagnosis

  • Simple infection
  • Malignancy
  • Complex infections – TB, HIV
  • Menopause
  • Prescribed drugs
  • Anxiety

History

  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Cough, SOB, haemoptysis
  • Bowel habit, PR bleeding
  • Haematuria
  • Joint stiffness/swelling/deformity
  • Lumps – LN, breast, testicular
  • PMB
  • LN – neck, axilla, groin
  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Medications
  • Alcohol, IV drug use
  • Smoker
  • Mood

Examination

  • Chest, abdomen
  • LN (cervical, axillary, inguinal)

Investigations

  • Bloods – FBC, U+Es, LFTs, TFTs, CRP, HIV, autoimmune screen
  • Sputum MC&S
  • Stool cultures (three on three separate days)
  • CXR
  • USS abodmen/pelvis

Treatment

  • Consider referral e.g. medical team, infectious diseases team