Common cold chills: what they mean and what to do

Chills are a sensation of shivering or feeling cold, sometimes with shaking, even when the room feels comfortable. They may occur as a cold develops and can happen with tiredness, a blocked nose, sore throat, or cough. Check your temperature if you can, because chills may accompany a fever. Chills alone do not identify the cause, and a cold can overlap with other respiratory illnesses. Worsening cough, breathing symptoms, or new ear pain may point to a complication that deserves review.

Rest, drink fluids regularly, and use light layers so you can adjust your comfort as the chills settle. Warm drinks may soothe your throat, while saline nasal spray or a humidified room can ease nasal irritation. Follow the label for any medicine and check with a pharmacist before combining products, particularly if you have a long-term condition or take regular treatment. Avoid antibiotics unless a clinician has prescribed them for a bacterial problem; they do not treat the viruses that cause colds.

Seek urgent help for trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, fainting, blue or grey lips, or inability to keep fluids down. Arrange medical advice if chills are severe, keep returning, occur with a high temperature, or your symptoms are getting worse rather than easing. Also seek advice for a new earache, marked facial pain, or a cough that becomes difficult to control.

Ask whether your temperature pattern fits a cold, whether another infection should be considered, and which symptom medicines are suitable for you.