Differential Diagnosis for Feeling Cold and Shaking
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hypothermia: This condition occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature. It is the most straightforward explanation for feeling cold and shaking, as the body's response to cold stress includes shivering to generate heat.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Infection (e.g., pneumonia, sepsis): Infections can cause a systemic inflammatory response that leads to chills and shaking. The body's immune response to an infection can manifest as feeling cold, even if the actual body temperature is elevated.
- Anxiety or Panic Attack: Severe anxiety or a panic attack can cause physical symptoms that include shaking or trembling and feeling cold, due to the body's 'fight or flight' response.
- Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): A drop in blood glucose levels can lead to shakiness, sweating, and feeling cold among other symptoms, as the body's cells are not receiving enough glucose for energy.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Sepsis: Although mentioned under infections, sepsis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It can present with nonspecific symptoms including feeling cold and shaking.
- Thyroid Storm: A life-threatening complication of untreated or undertreated hyperthyroidism, which can cause shivering, among many other symptoms, due to the extreme metabolic state.
- Adrenal Insufficiency: A condition where the adrenal glands do not produce adequate amounts of hormones, including cortisol. It can lead to a variety of symptoms including feeling cold and shaking, especially under stress.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Neurological Disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease): Certain neurological conditions can cause tremors or shaking, which might be mistaken for shivering due to cold. However, these conditions typically have other distinctive symptoms.
- Drug Withdrawal: Withdrawal from certain substances, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, can cause tremors and feeling cold among other symptoms.
- Mitochondrial Myopathies: Rare genetic disorders that affect the mitochondria, leading to muscle weakness and other symptoms, including potential episodes of feeling cold and shaking due to impaired energy production.