How To Know If Your Child Has Pneumonia

Shivering Chills

To most parents, a shivering child would be worrisome. However, to a certain point in pneumonia cases, this is actually a good defense mechanism of the body. Viruses and bacteria do not thrive well in hotter temperatures. So, when viruses or bacteria enter the body, the body will try to eliminate those by raising the body’s temperature. The way for the body to raise its temperature is to get the muscles contracting and relaxing in rapid succession. When one engages in intense physical activity, the muscles contract and relax in rapid succession, and thereby produces heat. However, when the body needs to heat up and yet the body is inactive, the brain will signal the muscles to contract and relax in rapid succession to produce the heat needed, and this is what looks like shivering.

Note that not all pneumonia cases will experience shivering chills. In some cases, the child will exhibit a fever, without any noticeable shivering.