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Infant ice cold, red, wet hands and feet


Sent to Health Experts June 30, 2006 12:52 a.m.
I am a child care teacher and I have a 7 month old female in my class that has cold wet hands and feet. Her hands and feet are always ice cold, red, and wet, but worsen after a hard cry or a nap. They are not just clammy they actually drip fluid off of them. In the 11 years of my child care experience I have never seen anything like it. My coworkers and I are very concerned, should we be?

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Female , Age: 7 months

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Answer
June 30, 2006 1:31 a.m. (38 minutes and 45 seconds later) 		REPLIED Check Mark

There are some children who produce much more sweat than usual even as infants, which is a condition called hyperhydrosis. Often, they are completely healthy except for this problem.

Sweaty palms and feet is called palmoplantar hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating is caused by heightened activity in the sympathetic chain which is part of the Autonomic Nervous System. It is located in the chest cavity and has nothing to do with motor or sensory functions. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040301/1117.pdf



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Reply to Dr. Hanson
Sent June 30, 2006 6:39 a.m. (5 hours and 8 minutes later)
If it doesn't occur during sleep or sedation why are her feet most wet after a nap? Are thier any other problems to worry about other embarasament and slipperness in shoes because of wetness? Are any of the treatments avaible advisable for infants. Is there as chance that this condition can inprove with age.
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Answer
June 30, 2006 7:13 p.m. (12 hours and 34 minutes later) 		ACCEPTED Check Mark

Emotional sweating of the palms and soles stops during sleep. The sweating usually reduces at night time and disappears during sleep. The sweat that you notice after her nap is caused by the activation of her nervous system when she wakes up. Most of the time these infants will outgrow hyperhidrosis as their immature nervous systems develop.

In the meantime, the only treatment that is safe for a 7 month old is called "tap water iontophoresis". The Drionic is used by many patients with hyperhidrosis, although I must say not too many infants require it. It uses a 9-volt battery--not enough to harm a person but enough to plug up over-active sweat ducts and keep them plugged for about six weeks. The infant's parent places her palms and soles of her feet on top of the device for a few minutes. The Drionic device may be used at home and is effective in reducing hyperhidrosis for as long as 6 weeks. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of the machine if a physician orders it and states that it is "medically necessary".
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8533516&dopt=Abstract
http://www.aetna.com/cpb/data/CPBA0229.html



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Please click the green "ACCEPT" button.     A "BONUS" and "POSITIVE FEEDBACK" are appreciated!
PictureDr. Hanson  -- Doctor (MD) -- 99% Positive Feedback on 819 Health Accepts
Diplomate, American Board of Quality Assurance & Utilization Review Physicians

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