Persistent shivering: causes and symptoms

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Extract from the article: Shivering is a normal bodily reaction that occurs when the body tries to keep warm. They manifest as involuntary muscle contractions. Shivering is the body's natural defence mechanism for maintaining body temperature or fighting infection. What are t

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Shivering is a normal bodily reaction that occurs when the body tries to keep warm. They manifest as involuntary muscle contractions. Shivering is the body's natural defence mechanism for maintaining body temperature or fighting infection. What are the causes and symptoms of shivering? 

A shiver is a rapid, fleeting muscle contraction that occurs in the skin. It is the body's defence mechanism for maintaining body temperature or sometimes fighting an infection. During a shiver, around 10 muscular contractions per second occur, allowing the body to warm up quickly.

Associated symptoms

Shivering can be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain or abdominal pain. Other symptoms include cold extremities and skin rashes.

Causes of chills

Chills can have many causes and may even be a sign of certain illnesses. The most obvious cause of chills is cold. Shivering helps the body to warm up by causing muscle contractions. This is a mechanism by which the body produces heat. Shivering is accompanied by other protective mechanisms against the cold, such as reduced sweat production and narrowing of the blood vessels.

Chills often accompany fever. Fever is generally the body's reaction to an infection such as malaria, influenza, gastroenteritis or urinary tract infection. Fever is the body's warning signal to rest and activate the immune system to fight infection. However, a high fever can be dangerous.

After an operation under anaesthetic, it is common to shiver. The administration of anaesthetics can cause the body to cool down during the operation. Although generally not serious, this can cause potentially dangerous heart problems in some people at risk.

In the case of severe and extensive burns, shivering may occur due to the significant loss of skin, which plays a role in regulating body temperature, and also due to microbes leaking into the bloodstream. Shivers can also be triggered by strong emotions such as excitement, fear or disgust. They may be accompanied by goose bumps, a similar reaction localised in the muscles at the hairline.

Certain nutritional deficiencies, particularly in vitamins or adequate calorie intake, disrupt the regulation of body heat and can cause shivering. An iron deficiency can also lead to reduced oxygenation and anaemia, which can result in shivering. Shivering can therefore be a sign of fatigue, prompting you to rest. Fatigue slows down the body's functioning and disrupts the regulation of body temperature. Shivering can also be felt in the case of anxiety disorders, indicating the need to rest and consult a health professional if necessary. They can also sometimes accompany stress.

Raymond DZAKPATA

Article validated by Dr Jean-Claude Bakpatina, General Practitioner Lomé-Togo