Why does kidney infection cause chills?

During infection, immune signals can reset the body's temperature target. Until the body reaches that higher target, you may feel cold and shiver even in a warm room. Chills may alternate with feeling hot or sweaty as the temperature changes. Most people with Kidney Infection notice chills. They can occur alongside fever, pain in the side or back, nausea, burning urination or needing to urinate more often.

Contact a clinician promptly if chills occur with symptoms suggesting a urinary infection. Testing a urine sample can help guide treatment. Keep drinking fluids in small amounts if you can, rest, and use temperature or pain medicines only if they are safe for you. Antibiotics, when prescribed, should be taken exactly as directed; stopping early without advice can leave an infection untreated.

Seek urgent medical care if chills are severe or occur with high fever, confusion, fainting, severe side or back pain, repeated vomiting, breathing difficulty, very little urine, pregnancy or rapid deterioration. A kidney infection can sometimes make people seriously unwell and needs prompt assessment when these warning signs appear.

Tell the clinician when the chills started, whether you measured a temperature, and whether you have urinary pain, back pain, vomiting or blood in urine. Ask how you will receive test results, what improvement should look like, and what symptoms should prompt reassessment.