Symptom: Shivering

Introduction: Shivering

Shivering refers to the shaking of the skin usually related to cold, or the perception of cold. A high fever can also give you the chills and cause shivering, despite a high body temperature, and there are numerous causes of fever. Other types of body motion that are not really "shivering" include tremor, trembling, twitches, spasms, seizures and so on. Shivering can be a symptom of serious medical conditions and needs prompt professional medical advice.

» Review Causes of Shivering: full list

Causes of Shivering:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Shivering. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Cold weather
• Feeling cold
• Chills
• Hypothermia
• Cold sweats
• Fever - see the many causes of high fever that may cause shivering.
• Cold sensitivity
• Menopause
• Panic attack - causes people to feel hot and cold flashes (but usually with numerous other symptoms including panic).
• See also causes of chills, temperature sensitivity, cold sweats, hypothermia, fever, high fever
• Other symptoms that might be imprecisely described as "shivering" include:
  • Tremor
  • Trembling
  • Tics
  • Twitches
  • Spasms

See full list of 33 causes of Shivering

» Review Causes of Shivering: full list

Shivering: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Shivering, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Shivering: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Shivering and Chills (22 causes)
• Shivering and Sweat symptoms (22 causes)
• Shivering and Fever (21 causes)
• Shivering and Temperature symptoms (16 causes)
• Shivering and Nerve symptoms (16 causes)
• Shivering and Pain (15 causes)
• Shivering and Sensations (15 causes)
• Shivering and Abdominal symptoms (13 causes)
• Shivering and Digestive symptoms (13 causes)
• Shivering and Muscle symptoms (12 causes)
• Shivering and Behavioral symptoms (11 causes)
• Shivering and Head symptoms (11 causes)
• Shivering and Respiratory symptoms (11 causes)
• Shivering and Skin symptoms (11 causes)
• Shivering and Fatigue (11 causes)
• Shivering and Breath symptoms (10 causes)
• Shivering and Breathing difficulties (10 causes)
• Shivering and Breathing symptoms (10 causes)
• Shivering and Sweating (10 causes)
• Shivering and Muscle weakness (10 causes)

See full list of 522 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Shivering

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Chills (318 causes)
• Fever (1218 causes)
• Sweat symptoms (548 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)
• Temperature symptoms (1021 causes)
• Sick (3141 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Shivering

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Shivering:

• Fever (1218 causes)
• Cold sweat (108 causes)
• Tremor (137 causes)
• Trembling (544 causes)
• Twitches (42 causes)
• Chills (318 causes)
• Temperature sensitivity (66 causes)
• Hypothermia (93 causes)
• Coldness (9 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Shivering

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Shivering from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Shivering. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Shivering

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic tests for Shivering:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Shivering. Some of these are listed below :

• General appearance
  • Jaundice associated with shivering may suggest ascending cholangitis or cholecystitis
• Physical examination
  • Temperature - Shivering may be related to a fever but may also be caused by a low body temperature. Fevers can be due to infection, malignant disease, metabolic disorders (e.g. gout), blood disorders (e.g. hemolytic anemia), vascular disorders (e.g. stroke, brain hemorrhage) or immunological disorders (e.g. lupus). Hypothermia is defined as a fall in the core (i.e. rectal) temperature to below 35 degrees Celsius).
  • Examine the heart for a heart murmur which would suggest bacterial endocarditis

See full list of 41 diagnostic tests for Shivering

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Shivering. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the shivering? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is the body motion truly "shivering"? - Shivering refers to the shaking of the skin usually related to cold, the perception of cold or a fever. Other types of body motion that are not really "shivering" include tremor, trembling, twitches, spasms and seizures.
• Have you been exposed to extreme cold weather or cold water? - may help when considering the cause of a low body temperature and consequent shivering. Shivering is usually related to the cold, or the perception of cold.
• If the shivering is associated with a fever, what is the pattern of the fever and shivering? - may help determine the cause of the shivering e.g. intermittent fever of malaria, Epstein-Barr virus and ascending cholangitis; continuous fever is common with viral infections such as influenza; remittent fever where temperature returns towards normal for a variable period but is always elevated may occur with pelvic abscess, wound infection and cancer; undulant fever where bouts of fever for several days are followed by several days of normal temperature occur with brucellosis infection and lymphomas.
• Travel history? - Overseas travelers or visitors may have special or even exotic infections.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Shivering (16 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Shivering) may include:

• Frequency and burning of urine? - would suggest pyelonephritis, abscess around the kidney or abscess in the prostate.
• Cough? - may suggest pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis or tuberculosis.
• Bone pain or bone swelling? - may suggest osteomyelitis.
• Pain and location of the pain? - can help determine focus of infection.
• Body discharge? - e.g. vaginal, penile, anal, tooth, ear, nasal.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Shivering (16 listings)

Stories from Users for Shivering

Real-life user stories relating to Shivering:

• shivers on and off
• twitching,shudders, jerking, flailing please HELP!!

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Shivering or relevant symptoms:

• Constitutional (General Wellbeing) (156)
  • Sore Scalp/hair follicles
  • Fat loss in entire body
  • Dont know how much more I can take..
  • I'm Lost.
  • My wife does not sweat I'm worried
  • More user stories
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories

Videos for Shivering

Patient Surveys for Shivering

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Medications or substances causing Shivering:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Shivering as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Chloroprocaine Hydrochloride
• Nesacaine
• Nesacaine-MPF
• Vesanoid

See full list of 4 medications causing Shivering

Drug interactions causing Shivering:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Shivering as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Venlafaxine and sibutramine interaction
• Effexor and sibutramine interaction
• Effexor XR and sibutramine interaction
• Venlafaxine and sumatriptan interaction
• Effexor and sumatriptan interaction

See full list of 89 drug interactions causing Shivering

Definitions of Shivering:

Shivering: Trembling resulting from cold or fear. Dogs may also shiver with anticipation, in a state of excitement.
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

A sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Organs affected by Shivering:

The list of organs typically affected by Shivering may include, but is not limited to:

• General constitution

Detailed list of causes of Shivering

The list below shows some of the causes of Shivering mentioned in various sources:

• Alcohol-Induced Disorders - shivering
• Alcoholic intoxication - shivering
• Chills
• Cold sensitivity
• Cold sweats

See full list of 33 causes of Shivering

How Common are these Causes of Shivering?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Shivering. Of the 33 causes of Shivering that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 0 causes are "very common" diseases
• 1 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 4 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 29 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 33 causes of Shivering

Conditions listing symptoms: Shivering:

The following list of conditions have 'Shivering' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Shivering Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Shivering based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: