High fever and chills: what to know

High fever with chills often reflects the body responding to infection, but the combination can range from a short illness to an emergency. Chills may occur as the body resets its temperature, even before a thermometer records a fever. The pattern, duration and other symptoms help guide care; the symptoms alone cannot identify a particular infection.

Influenza can bring sudden fever, chills, aches and marked tiredness. Cough or breathing difficulty may occur with Pneumonia. Burning urine, frequent urination or side pain can accompany a Urinary Tract Infection or Kidney Infection. Travel or mosquito exposure matters when considering Malaria or Dengue Fever. A severe infection affecting the whole body may lead to Sepsis. These conditions do not have identical treatments, so clinical assessment is useful.

Rest, drink small amounts often and use light clothing and bedding while fever is present. Check and record your temperature and note the start time, chills, pain, cough, urinary symptoms, rash, travel and medicines. Follow label directions for any fever medicine and check first if you are pregnant, have liver or kidney disease, or take other medicines. Avoid antibiotics left from an earlier illness.

Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, a stiff neck, a seizure, blue lips or a rapidly spreading rash. Get urgent assessment for severe weakness, repeated vomiting, inability to drink, very little urine, severe headache, severe abdominal or side pain, or a fever after recent travel to a malaria-risk area. Infants, older adults, pregnant people and those with weakened immunity should seek advice early.

Ask: Which symptoms point to the source of the fever? Do I need testing? Could travel or an insect bite change the assessment? Which fever medicine is safe with my conditions? How should I monitor hydration and when should I return for help?