What should you know about got chills?

Chills can happen as muscles rapidly contract to generate heat. They may occur before or during a fever and can accompany influenza, pneumonia or a urinary tract infection. Kidney infection may bring chills with pain in the side or back and urinary symptoms. In places where mosquito-borne illness occurs, malaria or dengue fever may also be considered after relevant travel or exposure. Chills alone cannot identify the cause.

Check your temperature if possible and note when the shaking began, how long it lasts and what other symptoms are present. Rest, drink fluids and use light layers until you are comfortable; heavy blankets can make a fever feel worse. Consider a usual fever medicine only if it is suitable for you and use the label directions. Arrange a clinical review if chills recur, follow travel, or occur with cough, pain when urinating, rash or persistent fever.

Seek urgent help for chills with confusion, fainting, severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, a rapidly worsening illness, severe weakness or a new widespread rash. Emergency assessment is also needed when the person is hard to wake or cannot keep fluids down. These features can signal a serious infection such as sepsis and should not be judged by temperature alone.

Tell the clinician about recent travel, insect bites, urinary symptoms, cough, medicines, pregnancy, immune problems and any measured temperature. Ask whether urine or other tests are appropriate.