What Do Fever and Chills Mean?

Fever and chills often mean your body is responding to an infection or another cause of inflammation, but the symptoms alone cannot identify the illness. Chills are the feeling of being cold or shivering, and they may occur as the body tries to raise its temperature. You can have chills before a fever is measured, while the temperature is rising, or as a fever settles.

Viral illnesses such as influenza can cause fever, chills, tiredness, headache, cough, sore throat, or body aches. Bacterial infections can also produce these symptoms; the pattern of other symptoms gives more useful clues. Burning urination or pain in the side may point toward a urinary tract or kidney infection, while cough, chest discomfort, or breathlessness can occur with pneumonia.

In the UAE and other areas where mosquito-borne illness can occur, malaria or dengue fever may also be considered after relevant travel or exposure. Fever with chills is not a diagnosis by itself, and some serious infections, including sepsis, require urgent assessment. Non-infectious causes are possible too, so a clinician may consider the full history, examination, and test results.

Rest, drink fluids regularly, and dress in light, comfortable layers. Check your temperature with a working thermometer and record when the fever, chills, and other symptoms began. Avoid strenuous activity and limit close contact with others while you may have an infectious illness.

A pharmacist or clinician can advise whether a fever-relieving medicine is suitable for you, taking account of your age, pregnancy, medical conditions, and other medicines. Do not start antibiotics without medical advice. Arrange a clinical review if symptoms are worsening, returning, or not improving, or if you have recently travelled to a malaria-risk area.

Seek emergency help for trouble breathing, blue or grey lips, severe chest pain, confusion, fainting, a seizure, unusual difficulty waking, or rapidly worsening illness. Severe weakness, cold or clammy skin, or a very fast heartbeat alongside fever can also be a warning sign of a serious infection.

Get prompt medical advice for a stiff neck, severe headache, a new widespread rash, repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, signs of dehydration, or severe pain. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with reduced immunity or a significant long-term condition may need earlier assessment.

Ask what may be causing the fever and chills, whether an examination or tests are needed, and which symptoms should prompt urgent review. Tell the clinician about your measured temperature, timing of symptoms, recent travel, insect bites, sick contacts, new medicines, urinary symptoms, breathing symptoms, and any health conditions that affect your immune system.