What should you know about cough and chills?

Chills are episodes of shivering or feeling unusually cold, sometimes with a fever. Influenza and pneumonia can present with cough, fever, aches and marked tiredness. Depending on travel and exposure, malaria or dengue fever may also need consideration. A kidney infection or urinary tract infection can cause chills with urinary symptoms, back or side pain, nausea or fever. Sepsis is a medical emergency that may involve rapidly worsening illness, confusion, fast breathing or extreme weakness. The direction matters: these conditions can present with cough or chills, but the symptoms alone do not identify one diagnosis.

Rest, drink fluids if you can, and record your temperature and the timing of chills. Limit close contact while fever or respiratory symptoms continue, and improve ventilation around others. Tell a clinician about recent travel, insect bites, sick contacts, vaccination history and any long-term conditions. Do not start leftover antibiotics or malaria treatment without medical advice, because the correct treatment depends on the cause.

Get emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, blue or grey lips, fainting, new confusion, inability to stay awake, or rapidly worsening weakness. Seek same-day medical advice for persistent high fever, repeated shaking chills, dehydration, coughing blood, severe headache, a rash, severe abdominal or back pain, or recent travel to a malaria area. A person who appears seriously unwell should not wait for a home test.

Explain when the cough and chills began, whether the chills come in waves, and whether you have measured fever. Mention breathlessness, chest pain, urinary changes, rash, headache, travel, insect exposure and medicines. Ask which examination or tests are appropriate and what changes should prompt urgent reassessment.