Chills
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Feeling cold
Sick
Trembling
Shivering
Can't stop shivering from cold
Freezing
Ill
I have the chills
About the Symptom
Shivering or chills is when the body's muscles tense and relax repeatedly to warm up. This can be caused by low temperatures, infections, or fever.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Gross hematuria
- Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
- Edema
- Peripheral cyanosis
- Repeated fever above 38 ℃
Possible Causes
Generally, Chills can be related to:
Shuddering Attacks
- Influenza (Flu)
An infection caused by the influenza virus, typically affecting the respiratory tract (nose, windpipe, lungs).
- Hypothyroidism
A disorder where thyroid hormone levels in the body are abnormally low. These hormones are necessary for growth, development, and metabolism. Some symptoms include unintended weight gain, constipation, changes in menstrual cycles, dry skin, brittle nails, depression and memory issues. It can be caused by an autoimmune disorder (Hashimoto's) or from prior thyroid surgery and sometimes medications.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Chills may be related to these serious diseases:
- Peritonitis
Peritonitis is the inflammation of the peritoneum, a thin layer lining the inside of the abdomen and surrounding abdominal organs. It is a life-threatening emergency requiring prompt medical attention and can be caused by bacterial infections, liver disease, or a rupture in the gastrointestinal tract, among other things.
- Malaria
- Meningitis
- Scrub Typhus
- Acute Prostatitis
- Sepsis
- Encephalitis / Encephalopathy
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you experiencing chills or feeling cold?
- When did you first start experiencing chills or feeling cold?
- Regarding your chills or feeling cold, which of the following best describes it?
- How are your chills or feeling cold now?
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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FAQs
Q.
What Conditions Can Make Me Feel Feverish and Sluggish But Not Have A Fever?
A.
A whole variety of conditions can make you feel sluggish or even feverish without actually measuring a fever.
References:
Geneva II, Cuzzo B, Fazili T, Javaid W. Normal Body Temperature: A Systematic Review. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Apr 9;6(4):ofz032. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofz032. PMID: 30976605; PMCID: PMC6456186.
Kaul DR, Flanders SA, Beck JM, Saint S. Brief report: incidence, etiology, risk factors, and outcome of hospital-acquired fever: a systematic, evidence-based review. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Nov;21(11):1184-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00566.x. PMID: 17026728; PMCID: PMC1831668.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1