CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Hyperhidrosis - Management
How should I assess someone with excessive sweating?
- Determine whether the hyperhidrosis is primary focal (idiopathic), or secondary to an underlying cause:
- Suspect an underlying cause if any of the following affect the person with hyperhidrosis:
- Generalized sweating.
- Sweating during sleep (which suggests tuberculosis, another infection, or Hodgkin's disease).
- Symptoms and signs of systemic disease (such as fever, weight loss, anorexia, or palpitations).
- The person is taking prescribed drugs that are known to cause sweating.
- Unilateral or asymmetric sweating (which suggest a neurological lesion or tumour, an intrathoracic malignancy, or a cervical rib).
- Symptoms and signs of any other causes of secondary focal hyperhidrosis or generalized hyperhidrosis.
- Diagnose primary focal hyperhidrosis if diagnostic criteria are met.
- Assess whether anxiety may be an exacerbating factor.
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement