What should you know about uncontrollable chills?

Chills happen when muscles contract rapidly to generate heat. They may follow cold exposure, but intense shaking with fever often reflects an infection. Influenza can cause abrupt chills with aches; a Kidney Infection or Urinary Tract Infection may add back pain or urinary symptoms; Pneumonia may cause cough or breathlessness; and Malaria can follow travel to a malaria area. Dengue Fever is another travel-related possibility. Sepsis is a medical emergency associated with severe infection and rapid deterioration.

Move to a comfortably warm place, take your temperature if possible, sip fluids if you are alert and able to swallow, and note associated symptoms and recent travel. Avoid extreme heat or alcohol. Arrange medical assessment if the shaking is intense, recurrent, unexplained, or paired with fever, pain, cough, urinary changes, or unusual weakness. Do not use another person’s antibiotics.

Call emergency services for confusion, fainting, severe breathlessness, blue or grey lips, a seizure, mottled skin, inability to keep fluids down, severe weakness, or rapidly worsening illness. Seek same-day care for high fever with persistent rigors, severe pain, a stiff neck, a new rash, or recent travel to a malaria area. Infants, older adults, pregnant people, and people with reduced immunity need a lower threshold for assessment.

Describe when the chills began, whether Fever was measured, how long each episode lasted, and whether you have cough, pain, urinary symptoms, rash, vomiting, or recent travel. Ask whether examination, urine testing, or blood testing is needed and what changes should prompt emergency care.