Extreme Body Aches and Chills: What to Know

Chills are a sensation of cold or shivering that can happen as your body responds to infection or a rising temperature. Muscle aches may affect the back, limbs, or several areas at once. Influenza and COVID-19 can present with chills, fever, tiredness, and widespread aches. Malaria can cause episodes of fever and chills, especially after travel or residence in an area where malaria occurs. Dengue fever may cause marked muscle and joint pain. Brucellosis is another infection that can cause fever, sweating, and aches. Persistent aches without a clear acute illness can also occur with fibromyalgia, while an underactive thyroid may contribute to muscle pain and low energy. These possibilities overlap, so the symptoms alone cannot identify the cause.

Rest and keep comfortably warm while avoiding overheating. Sip water or an oral rehydration drink if you are sweating, vomiting, or eating less than usual. Record your temperature and note when the aches and chills began, along with cough, sore throat, rash, headache, stomach symptoms, recent travel, insect bites, or contact with someone who was ill. Ask a pharmacist or clinician which pain or fever medicine is suitable for you, particularly if you are pregnant, have liver or kidney disease, take blood thinners, or use other medicines. Do not start antibiotics or antimalarial treatment without medical advice.

Arrange prompt medical assessment if the aches are extreme, symptoms are worsening, fever persists, or you cannot keep fluids down. Seek emergency help for trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion, fainting, a seizure, a stiff neck with severe headache, new weakness, blue or grey lips, severe dehydration, or a rapidly spreading rash. Get urgent advice after recent travel to a malaria area if fever and chills develop, even if symptoms come and go. People who are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or living with significant long-term conditions should seek advice earlier.

Ask: What causes best fit my pattern of aches and chills? Do I need an examination or tests? Could recent travel, an insect bite, a new medicine, or an infection exposure change the assessment? Which medicines and fluids are safe for me? What symptoms should lead me to emergency care, and when should I check in again if I am not improving?