What do chills feel like with a urinary tract infection?

A urinary infection can cause a cold sensation, goosebumps, trembling, and teeth chattering as the body responds to inflammation and changing temperature. Burning when passing urine, needing to urinate often, strong urgency, cloudy urine, lower abdominal discomfort, or an unusual urine smell may occur as well. Pain under the ribs or in the side can suggest involvement higher in the urinary tract.

Chills do not identify the source of an infection on their own. A urine assessment and examination help distinguish a bladder infection from a more serious kidney infection or another cause.

Arrange same-day medical advice when chills occur with urinary symptoms, fever, vomiting, or pain in the back or side. Drink normally if you can, note your temperature and urine symptoms, and tell the clinician about pregnancy, kidney problems, or recent antibiotics. Use only treatment recommended for this illness; leftover antibiotics may delay the right care.

Seek urgent help for severe side or back pain, repeated vomiting, confusion, fainting, marked weakness, inability to keep fluids down, or rapidly worsening fever and shaking. Pregnancy, childhood, older age, or a weakened immune system lowers the threshold for prompt assessment.

Ask whether the infection may have reached the kidneys, whether a urine sample is needed, how quickly treatment should improve symptoms, and which changes mean you should return urgently.