Rigors

What it means

Severe chills with violent shivering. A rigor is an episode of shaking or exaggerated shivering which can occur with a high fever.

A sudden attack of severe shivering accompanied by chills (a feeling of coldness) is called a rigor and may be associated with a marked rise in body temperature. Patients often describe rigors as an attack of uncontrollable shaking. Rigors are often a sign of infection, particularly bacterial infection.

Rare diseases that can present with this7

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Rigours