Shivering is the body's natural response to various conditions that cause the body's muscles to contract rapidly and repeatedly to increase body temperature. Shivering is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates a person is experiencing a health problem. Chills are common in children and may or may not be accompanied by fever.
Causes of Shivering
Most of the causes of chills are exposure to cold air. But if chills are accompanied by fever, it can be a sign that the body is experiencing inflammation or is fighting a viral or bacterial infection. Some infections that can cause chills include:
- Malaria
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Meningitis
- Sepsis
- Flu
- Sore throat
- Sinusitis
- Pneumonia
In addition to exposure to cold air and inflammation, chills can also occur without a fever. Chills without a fever can be caused by several other factors, namely:
- Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
- Body temperature that is too low (hypothermia).
- Dehydration from extreme physical activity, such as running a marathon.
- Low levels of thyroid hormone in the blood (hypothyroidism), so the body becomes susceptible to cold temperatures, which causes chills.
- The body experiences a lack of nutrients (malnutrition), so it is vulnerable to various things, including infections and cold temperatures.
- Side effects of drugs or taking drugs with the wrong dose.
- Emotional reactions, such as fear and anxiety.
Shivering can also be experienced by postoperative patients. This condition can occur because during surgery, the patient does not move for a long time and his body temperature decreases. The use of general anesthesia for surgery also affects the body's ability to control body temperature.
Shivering Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made to determine the medical condition that is the underlying cause of shivering. The diagnosis step begins with a medical history and physical examination. The doctor will also perform several tests to confirm the diagnosis, including:
- Blood and urine tests, to detect the presence of viruses, bacteria, or fungi in the blood or urine.
- Sputum examination (cultirsputum), to detect disorders that occur in the respiratory tract.
- chest X-ray, to detect pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Shivering Treatment
Treatment steps for chills depend on the underlying cause and the age of the sufferer. If the chills are only accompanied by a low-grade fever and are not accompanied by other serious symptoms, treatment steps can be taken by:
- Expand rest and fluid consumption.
- Cover the body with a light blanket, but avoid using blankets or thick clothing that can increase body temperature.
- Avoid using fans and air conditioners.
- Use warm water when bathing or cleaning the body.
- Take fever-reducing drugs, such as paracetamol.
- If the chills are caused by an infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
Handling of chills in children is done based on the child's age, underlying cause, and other accompanying symptoms. Treatment steps that can be taken are:
- Make sure the child is wearing clothes that are not too thick and avoid covering the child with thick blankets.
- Give your child adequate fluid intake to avoid dehydration.
- Keep the room temperature warm.
- To relieve fever, give the child paracetamol tablets or syrup, according to the instructions on the medicine package or as recommended
- Do not use cold water when bathing your child, as this can make the chills worse.
- Always monitor and measure the child's body temperature using a thermometer.
Call your doctor right away if your chills get worse or if you experience any of the following:
- There is a fever accompanied by symptoms of nausea, stiff neck, abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, and shortness of breath.
- If fever >39oC that persists 1-2 hours after undergoing home treatment.
- If shivering is experienced by children under the age of 3 months with a body temperature of 38oC or more.
- If a child aged 3-12 months has chills and fever that persists for more than 24 hours.
- If the fever does not improve for more than 3 days and the body does not respond to the treatment steps that have been taken.
Shivering Complications
If the chills persist after undergoing home treatment, see a doctor immediately to determine the underlying cause. This is necessary because the patient is at risk of severe dehydration and hallucinations, if left untreated. In children aged 6 months to 5 years, chills and fever can trigger seizures, also known as febrile seizures.
Shivering Prevention
Some preventive measures against shivering are:
- Always use thick clothes when going to do activities outside the house, especially during winter or rain.
- Always keep your hands clean to avoid the spread of viruses or bacteria.
- Increase the consumption of water and nutritious foods so that the immune system is maintained.
- If you have a history of hypoglycemia, eat more high-carbohydrate snacks to maintain blood sugar levels.
- Make sure your child gets immunizations according to the schedule.