Diagnostic Tests for Shivering

Diagnostic Test list for Shivering:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Shivering includes:

• 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
  • Examine the lungs for noises that suggest pneumonia or bronchiectasis
  • Examine the abdomen for enlarged liver - enlarged liver without jaundice may suggest amoebic abscess.
  • Examine the nervous system for abnormalities - may suggest brain abscess, sinus thrombosis, encephalitis or epidural abscess.
  • Examine the musculoskeletal system for bony tenderness or swelling - may suggest osteomyelitis.
  • If nil signs of infection, should consider septicemia, malaria, acute hemolytic anemia, relapsing fever, abscess under the diaphragm and dental abscess
  • Examine for features of hypothermia including reduced pulse rate, shallow breathing, shivering, muscle stiffness, reduced reflexes, reduced blood pressure
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count and ESR
  • Electrolytes and kidney function tests
  • Liver function tests
  • Serial blood cultures
  • ASO titre to exclude Rheumatic fever
  • ANA antibodies and double stranded DNA antibodies to look for lupus erythematosus
  • Syphilis screen
  • HIV antibody test may need to be ordered
  • Acute and convalescent phase serology tests for various viruses
• Tuberculin skin testing
• Urinalysis
• Urine microscopy and culture
• Nose and throat culture
• Sputum microscopy and culture
• Stool microscopy and culture
• Swab any body discharge for microscopy and culture
• Radiological investigations
  • Chest X-Ray
  • Sinus X-Ray
  • Plain X-Ray of suspected areas e.g. X-Ray of teeth may show abscessed tooth, X-Ray of long bone may show a metastatic cancer
  • Intravenous pyelogram may show cancer of kidney
  • Cholecystogram may show gallstones
  • Barium enema may show diverticulitis
  • Angiography may show polyarteritis nodosa, aortitis or giant cell arteritis
  • CT scan of abdomen and pelvis
  • CT scan of chest
  • Echocardiogram may show bacterial endocarditis
  • Bone scan and gallium scans looking for possible metastasis, osteomyelitis or localized abscesses
• Lymph node biopsy may diagnose lymphoma or sarcoidosis

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Shivering causes:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Test Kits
  • Home Flu Tests
  • Home Strep A Tests

 » Next page: Glossary

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