How common are chills in sepsis?

Sepsis is a dangerous response to an infection that can affect the body's organs. Shivering or chills may accompany fever, but temperature can also be low or normal. Other warning features include very fast breathing, a racing heartbeat, clammy skin, confusion, extreme sleepiness, severe pain, or passing very little urine. Chills alone do not diagnose sepsis, yet chills with a rapidly worsening infection should be treated as a medical concern.

If someone with a possible infection has chills and is deteriorating, seek emergency help immediately. Tell responders what infection is suspected, when the change began, any measured temperature, and the person's medicines or major medical conditions. Keep the person safe and supervised while help is arranged; do not make them eat or drink if they are confused, very drowsy, or vomiting. Do not wait for every warning sign to appear.

Call emergency services for confusion, fainting, severe breathlessness, blue or mottled skin, inability to stay awake, very little urine, seizures, or rapidly worsening weakness. Urgent help is also needed when chills accompany a serious wound, lung infection, urinary infection, or recent procedure and the person looks severely unwell. Sepsis can progress quickly, so early assessment is essential.

Ask what infection may be causing the illness, which observations need monitoring, what tests are needed, and which changes require emergency escalation. Explain the timing of chills, breathing changes, urine output, confusion, and any recent surgery or hospital care.