COVID-19 Symptom: Night Sweats

Night sweats can be a possible sign of COVID-19. As there are a lot of other possible causes for this symptom, it’s important to pay attention to any other symptoms which you might experience and to contact your doctor if you’re unsure of what’s causing your night sweats.

Night sweats as a sign of COVID-19

Your night sweats may be caused by COVID-19. It’s normal for everyone to sweat throughout the day and at night, as it is your body’s natural way of controlling your body temperature. If you do wake up with your sheets and pyjamas drenched in perspiration, then it may be a sign that you are infected with the coronavirus. In some cases, you may also have cold sweats at night due to COVID-19, which means that you suddenly feel a chill while you’re sweating. You can also experience night sweats without fever. ^{1 2}

Night sweats and COVID-19 may be related as the body can raise its temperature in order to fight off the infection with the coronavirus. Some people may also experience night sweats after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, as it’s a known side-effect for those who have been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. ³

How long do night sweats with COVID-19 last?

Night sweats caused by COVID-19 usually go away on their own after a few days. There have however been reports of people that have night sweats after COVID-19, making it one of the possible symptoms of long COVID. ⁴

Are night sweats always caused by COVID-19?

Not everyone with COVID-19 will develop night sweats, and not all people who have night sweats have them because of an infection with the coronavirus. If you notice that you are sweating at night, even if it’s not too hot in your room and you didn’t use too many blankets, then it may be a sign of a medical condition, such as: ^{1 5}

• The use of certain drugs or medication such as antidepressants or steroids
• Anxiety
• Menopause
• Hyperthyroidism
• Sleep apnoea
• Infections
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Low blood sugar
• Idiopathic hyperhidrosis, which is a condition that causes excessive sweating with an unknown cause.

Most of the time, night sweats are harmless, although they can also be caused by serious medical conditions. If you are unsure of what is causing your night sweats, then you should contact your doctor for a diagnosis.

If your night sweats are accompanied by other symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough, a fever, or a loss in taste or smell, then you should get tested for a possible infection with the coronavirus.

How to treat night sweats with COVID-19?

Night sweats that are caused by COVID-19 usually don’t require any specific treatment and go away on their own after a couple of days. If an infection with the coronavirus is causing your night sweats, then you can try treatment for COVID. If the night sweats persist, then you should contact your doctor.

Wrapping up

Night sweats are a possible symptom of COVID-19 and occur as a response of the body to the infection. Night sweats can usually be experienced together with other signs of an infection with the coronavirus and go away on their own after a few days.

FAQs

Q: How long do night sweats last after COVID-19?

A: Studies suggest that on average, night sweats may last for 103 days after the infection. This is however an average, so some people may experience night sweats for a shorter or longer duration of time. 

Q: How long do night sweats last with COVID-19?

A: In most cases, night sweats only last a few nights and go away on their own afterwards. 

Q: Are night sweats common with COVID-19?

A: Night sweats can occur with COVID-19, but they aren’t a common symptom. 

Q: How to help night sweats with COVID-19?

A: Night sweats usually go away on their own once the infection has cleared. You can try sleeping in a cool room in order to make yourself more comfortable.