Chills and sweating

The body may shiver while a fever is rising and sweat as it comes down. Influenza can produce this cycle with aches and fatigue. Kidney Infection and Urinary Tract Infection may cause chills with sweating, fever, or urinary changes. Malaria and Dengue Fever should be considered after relevant travel or mosquito exposure. Pneumonia may add cough or breathlessness. Sepsis can cause a person to feel extremely unwell, with confusion, fast breathing, or skin that feels unusually cold or clammy.

Night sweating can also relate to room temperature, medicines, hormonal changes, or other conditions. Describe when sweating occurs, whether clothes or bedding become soaked, and whether fever or weight change is present.

Rest in a comfortably ventilated room, change damp clothing, and drink fluids regularly. Use a thermometer if available and write down the timing of chills, sweating, fever, pain, cough, urinary symptoms, or diarrhoea. Avoid heavy wrapping that makes you overheat. If travel or mosquito exposure is relevant, mention it before taking treatment.

Arrange medical advice if episodes repeat, interfere with sleep, occur with fever, or come with urinary, chest, or abdominal symptoms. A clinician can decide whether examination or testing is needed.

Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, very little urine, blue or mottled skin, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Urgent assessment is needed when chills and sweating occur with severe pain or an inability to keep fluids down.

Ask what could explain the temperature changes, whether you need infection testing, and how to monitor yourself at home. Share your temperature readings, episode timing, medicines, travel, mosquito exposure, and any urinary, respiratory, abdominal, or neurological symptoms.