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Nov 19, 2023 · You may have chills without fever due to many reasons including medical conditions that lower your body temperature. Cold weather. When you are outdoors in cold weather, your body can lose heat ...
- Overview
- Causes of chills
- Treating chills at home
- When to call your doctor
- Diagnosing the cause of chills
- What’s the outlook for chills?
The term “chills” refers to a feeling of being cold without an apparent cause. Chills can occur with a fever and cause shivering or shaking.
The term “chills” refers to a feeling of being cold without an apparent cause. You get this feeling when your muscles repeatedly expand and contract and the vessels in your skin constrict. Chills can occur with a fever and cause shivering or shaking.
Some chills occur after exposure to a cold environment. They can also occur as a response to a bacterial or viral infection that causes a fever. Chills are commonly associated with the following conditions:
•bacterial or viral gastroenteritis
•flu
•meningitis
•sinusitis
•pneumonia
Home care for adults
Treatment is usually based on whether your chills are accompanied by a fever and the severity of the fever. If your fever is mild and you have no other serious symptoms, you don’t have to see a doctor. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of liquids. A mild fever is 101.4°F (38.6°C) or less. Cover yourself with a light sheet and avoid heavy blankets or clothing, which can raise your body temperature. Sponging your body with lukewarm water or taking a cool shower may help reduce a fever. Cold water, however, may trigger an episode of chills. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can lower a fever and fight chills, such as: •aspirin (Bayer) •acetaminophen (Tylenol) •ibuprofen (Advil) As with any medication, carefully follow the instructions and take them as directed. Aspirin and ibuprofen will lower your fever and reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen will bring down a fever, but it won’t reduce inflammation. Acetaminophen can be toxic to your liver if it isn’t taken as directed and long-term use of ibuprofen can cause kidney and stomach damage.
Home care for children
Treating a child with chills and fever depends on the child’s age, temperature, and any accompanying symptoms. In general, if your child’s fever is between 100ºF (37.8°C) and 102ºF (38.9°C) and they’re uncomfortable, you can give them acetaminophen in tablet or liquid form. It’s important to follow the dosing instructions on the package. Never bundle feverish children in heavy blankets or layers of clothing. Dress them in lightweight clothing and give them water or other liquids to keep them hydrated. Never give aspirin to children under the age of 18 because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Reye’s syndrome is a rare but serious disorder that can develop in children who are given aspirin while fighting a viral infection.
Call your doctor if your fever and chills don’t improve after 48 hours of home care or if you have any of the following symptoms:
•stiff neck
•wheezing
•severe coughing
•shortness of breath
•confusion
Your doctor will ask questions about your chills and fever, including:
•Do the chills make you shake, or do you only feel cold?
•What was your highest body temperature that was accompanied by chills?
•Have you had chills just once or have you had repeated episodes of chills?
•How long did each episode of chills last?
•Did the chills begin after exposure to an allergen, or did they begin suddenly?
Chills and fever are signs that something is wrong. If chills and fever persist after treatment, see your doctor to determine the underlying cause.
If a fever goes untreated, you may experience severe dehydration and hallucinations. Children ages 6 months to 5 years may also have fever-induced seizures, which are known as febrile seizures. These seizures don’t typically cause long-term health problems.
- Maureen Donohue
- Anemia. If you tend to feel like a human popsicle, no matter how many blankets you pile on top of yourself, it could be a sign of iron deficiency anemia, especially if you have icy hands and feet.
- Underactive Thyroid. If you have hypothyroidism, otherwise known as an underactive thyroid, you might feel chilly even on the warmest days. That's because the thyroid gland affects and is affected by the hypothalamus, "which is a gland at the base of the brain that controls our temperature and our perception of our temperature," Dr. Richard Honaker, M.D., a family medicine physician, tells Bustle.
- Cancer. "Undiagnosed cancer can result in feeling cold, chills, weakness," family and emergency medicine doctor, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, M.D., tells Bustle.
- Diabetes. If you have diabetes, you might struggle with feeling cold all the time, due to the way the disease affects circulation. "High blood sugar over time suppresses the immune system, and reduces blood circulation in tissues," Dr. Jain tells Bustle.
Feb 11, 2021 · Chills are your body’s way of raising its core temperature. Cold temperatures, viruses, infections and other illnesses can bring on chills. When you shiver, your muscles relax and contract. This involuntary movement warms your body. Chills and fever often go together. But not everyone with a fever gets chills.
Jan 24, 2024 · Takeaway. You may experience chills without fever due to exposure to cold temperatures, intense exercise, or certain health conditions. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Chills (shivering ...
- Corey Whelan
- In some cases, chills can occur before a fever develops. Chills can also result from other medical conditions, including low blood sugar and malnut...
- You can have unexplained chills due to the cold, a medical condition like hypothyroidism, or even a strong emotion.
- Sometimes, you may develop chills before a fever. But you can also get chills from a cold temperature, or health conditions including dehydration a...
a loss of taste and smell. a feeling of pressure in your ears and face. Symptoms of a cold can last longer in young children. They may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and sleeping, breathe through their mouth, and get sick after coughing. Telling the difference between cold and flu.
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Apr 15, 2024 · Chills can occur after a woman is “cooling down” after a hot flash or in place of hot flashes, a phenomenon known as “cold flashes.”. Your doctor may recommend blood tests to test hormone levels. Treatment can include symptom management with medications, including hormone-replacement therapy. 14. Anemia.
