chills

Chills are an automatic response from the body to regulate the internal temperature. It is practically a muscle contraction, which manifests itself in feeling cold and trembling.

Chills usually occur in the case of:

Chills and fever can be caused by:

benign diseases such as colds,
but also due to serious diseases such as malaria or meningitis.

Chills and fever are more common in children than in adults.

Staying in cold temperatures and a low body temperature (below 37 ° C) can cause chills.
Inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and some cancers can also cause fever and chills.

Causes of chills without a fever

Chills without a fever can be a body reaction to a cold environment.
It can be a symptom of some of the conditions listed below.

anemia
Anemia is a condition caused by a decrease in red blood cells and is one of the most common causes of chills.
Anemia is a disease that can increase sensitivity to cold.
Women may experience chills during their menstrual cycle, but it is also a symptom during ovulation.
The chills are caused by:

the blood loss
and the reduction in the number of red blood cells during menstruation.

thyroid disease
The thyroid is an endocrine gland that has several important functions, including regulation:

the body temperature
and metabolism.

If the thyroid doesn’t work properly, you can feel tired and have chills without a fever.

malnutrition
Malnutrition can affect the feeling of cold.
The lack of vitamin B complex can, for example, favor anemia and thus increase sensitivity to the sensation of cold.

stress
Stress negatively affects the immune system and can also create a hormonal imbalance that affects the regulation of body temperature.

hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can cause chills.
A person with low blood sugar levels can have:

If the blood sugar level is very low, dizziness can also occur.

Taking certain medications
Prolonged use of certain medications can cause chills without a fever. Pain relievers from the narcotics area and beta interferon can cause an intense feeling of cold.

weight problems
There is a relationship between fat and cold sensation. Underweight people have chills more often.
Fat helps maintain body heat.

Allergic reaction
Sometimes chills are caused by an allergic reaction. Some people get chills either with or without a fever,

as soon as they come into contact with an allergen or
after an insect bite.

Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure can cause fatigue and chills, even when the environment is warm.

Chills during menopause

During menopause, hot flushes occur due to changes in hormone levels, which affect the center for the body temperature in the brain (hypothalamus).
This can start with a strong sweat sweat to cool the body.
When the hot flashes are over, the skin is moist and severe chills can occur.

Causes of chills with fever

If you suddenly feel an intense cold and the chills are accompanied by a fever, it usually means that the body is fighting an infection.
Chills develop as a reaction of the body, which keeps its temperature at an optimal level even in hot weather conditions.
Chills and fever can be caused by many illnesses.
The most common causes are listed below.

The seasonal flu. The main symptoms of the flu are:

Other symptoms of this infection include generalized pain and fatigue.

malaria. High fever with chills in the 48-72 hour cycle is one of the main symptoms of malaria.

lung infection. Chills and fever are the most common symptoms of pneumonia.
Other possible symptoms are:

Sore throat. This bacterial infection can cause fever and chills. The treatment of sore throats caused by bacteria requires the use of antibiotics.

tuberculosis. This is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs.
Symptoms of tuberculosis are:

meningitis. Viral infections that cause meningitis usually get better without therapy.
However, bacterial meningitis is very serious and dangerous. Meningitis causes symptoms such as:

nephritis. Kidney dysfunction can lead to an accumulation of toxins in the body.
Chills and increased body temperature occur during urinary tract infection, for example in the case of pyelonephritis.

tumors. Many cancers cause fever and chills. This is often the case with:

leukemia,
metastatic tumors (for example on the liver or on the bones).

Inflammatory pelvic disease. Pelvic infections include bacterial infections in the upper genital tract (uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes).
Possible causes for these pathological forms are:

sexually transmitted diseases, such as infections caused by chlamydia and gonorrhea
an abortion.

Symptoms include fever and chills.

appendicitis. Abdominal pain may indicate a severe case of appendicitis when accompanied by fever, chills, and other symptoms, such as:

In this case, surgical intervention is required to remove the appendix.

joint diseases. Some joint disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause:

AIDS. AIDS sufferers have a weak immune system.
You can get an infection very quickly.
Those who have a weakened immune system are more susceptible to chills and fever than other people.

Other causes of chills

Possible accompanying symptoms with chills

Chills often occur with other symptoms that depend on the underlying condition or disorder.
Symptoms that can occur with chills are:

Chills during pregnancy

Chills during pregnancy can be the symptom of an illness that needs treatment. While some discomfort is a normal characteristic of a healthy pregnancy, other disorders can be a problem.
The feeling of cold often occurs with common diseases that cause an increase in body temperature, such as colds and flu.
You can feel cold in a moment, then hot again.
Sweating is often accompanied by chills.

causes
As a rule, chills and fever are the symptoms of an infection.
You can get chills from a viral infection, such as gastroenteritis or intestinal flu.
However, chills and fever can be the symptom of a very serious infection, such as:

lung infection,
appendicitis,
Pyelonephritis.

Urinary tract infections often occur in pregnant women, they can cause:

fever,
chills,
frequent urge to urinate.

The dangerous causes of chills include infections of the kidneys, which can lead to premature birth or miscarriage.

Therapy of chills in pregnancy
Although over-the-counter pharmaceuticals such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help reduce fever, doctor approval should be obtained before taking any over-the-counter medication during pregnancy.
Depending on the severity and duration of the fever and the stage of development of the unborn child, the doctor can do some tests to find out the cause of the fever, such as:

Bacterial infections (for example on the urogenital tract or on the breast) often require oral antibiotic therapy.

Chills after childbirth

Chills at night due to milk injection
After childbirth, chills can be caused by the milk being injected, that is, when the milk is made available for breastfeeding in the female breast.
This phenomenon occurs in the first week after childbirth and can be accompanied by chills at night in bed.

If chills and high fever occur after childbirth, the patient may have a vaginal or uterine infection.
It is important to see a doctor immediately.

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