What Causes Chills?

Chills are a feeling of coldness, usually accompanied by shivering or shaking. They may simply be a reaction to a cold environment or a symptom of illness.
What Symptoms Accompany Chills?
The main symptoms of chills include:
- Feeling cold
- Shivering
- Shaking
Additional symptoms that may accompany chills depend on the cause, and may include:
- Cold environment/low core body temperature (hypothermia)
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Confusion
- Clumsiness
- Tiredness
- Breathing faster than usual
- Urinating more than usual
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Fever
- Body aches/muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Rapid heartbeat
- Blurred vision
- Lightheadedness
- Drowsiness
- Heat-related illness (heat exhaustion, heat stroke)
- Panic attack
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Chest pain (patients may believe they are having a heart attack)
- Hemolytic anemia
- Malaria
- Fever
- Sweats
- Head and body aches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Leukemia and other blood cancers
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Night sweats
- Abdominal pain
- Recurring infections
- Frisson (also called “skin orgasm” or “shivers down your spine”)
- Usually pleasurable
- Burst of tingling
What Is the Treatment for Chills?
Treatment for the chills depends on the cause.
- Cold environment/low core body temperature (hypothermia)
- Move the person to a warmer place right away
- Remove any wet clothing
- Cover the person with blankets
- Drink warm beverages (if the person is able to drink)
- Viral or bacterial infections
- For both viral and bacterial infections, rest and drinking plenty of fluids helps
- If the infection is bacterial, antibiotics may be prescribed
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Follow the “15-15” rule: Consume 15 grams of simple carbs, such as a glucose tablet, fruit juice, hard candy, or honey, and re-check blood glucose in 15 minutes
- After that, eat a meal, but don’t overeat to avoid a blood sugar spike
- Heat-related illness (heat exhaustion, heat stroke)
- Get medical assistance quickly and call 911: heat stroke is a medical emergency
- Move to a shaded area
- Try to cool rapidly using cold water immersion, spray from a hose, cold water sponging, or by placing cold towels over the entire body
- Drink cool beverages (if the person is conscious)
- Panic attack
- For a first-time panic attack, see a doctor
- If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, treatment may include medication and psychotherapy
- Hemolytic anemia
- Lifestyle changes
- Medications
- Blood transfusions
- Blood and bone marrow transplants
- Surgery to remove the spleen
- Malaria
- Anti-malarial medication
- Leukemia and other blood cancers
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Bone marrow transplant (also called "stem cell transplant")
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Frisson (also called “skin orgasm” or “shivers down your spine”)
- No treatment needed
- Frisson is harmless and will stop on its own after a short time

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Reviewed on 9/18/2020
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