Chills at temperature

Chills are a subjective sensation. With it, the skin becomes covered with goosebumps, there is a feeling of severe freezing, muscle tremors appear, and there is a desire to wrap yourself in a warm blanket.

Often, against the background of chills, the temperature rises, and as the new figure on the thermometer stabilizes, the chills pass. But what are its causes, why other unpleasant sensations can occur against the background of chills?

The causes of chills

Chills or a feeling of cold and trembling in the body, the inability to warm up, “goose bumps” occur due to vasospasm and muscle contraction. The reason lies in the fact that viruses or bacteria, entering the body, release harmful substances (toxins). Under the influence of these substances, white blood cells (leukocytes) begin to release special substances – pyrogens, which activate the center in the brain responsible for body temperature. As a result, the patient’s temperature rises.

The duration of the chill depends on the type of infection and the characteristics of the fever. The faster it rises, the shorter and stronger the chill. As the fever reaches its peak, the chills stop.

Chills can accompany not only influenza and SARS, but also bacterial infections, such as whooping cough, diphtheria, meningococcal or streptococcal infections.

Chills often occur against the background of fever, accompanying inflammatory processes of the lung tissue (viral and bacterial pneumonia), lesions of the urinary system (mainly pyelonephritis), purulent-inflammatory processes in the small pelvis (endometritis, adnexitis).

Chills are possible against the background of toxicosis, acute surgical pathologies (peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, appendicitis), severe poisoning, including mushrooms, medications, salts of heavy metals, etc.

chill signs

Chills occur due to a sharp spasm of capillaries – small peripheral vessels that carry blood to the skin and muscles. Chills usually accompany three key signs:

• feeling cold, chilly or freezing even in a warm room if the person is well dressed;
• muscle tremors – it occurs as an attempt by the muscles to produce more energy to warm the body;
• the appearance of the so-called goose bumps or goosebumps – a reflex contraction of the muscles that raise the hairs, which causes pimples to appear on the skin – this is also an attempt to warm the body (our ancient ancestors fluffed their hair to reduce heat transfer).

Associated symptoms of chills

As a rule, chills do not happen on their own – other symptoms appear along with it. They can additionally indicate a particular diagnosis.

Weakness

Reason: SARS, influenza, intestinal infections, inflammation, intoxication.

Weakness, high temperature, chills speak of intoxication of the body, because viruses and bacteria release a large amount of toxins into the blood. Weakness also refers to general malaise, “aches” in the body, decreased performance, drowsiness, restlessness, and frequent mood swings. There may be irritability, tearfulness. With SARS, weakness, headache, chills, fever usually appear simultaneously.

What to do. Provide the patient with complete rest.

Nausea

Reason #1: poisoning or intestinal infection.

Chills with fever, nausea, diarrhea can indicate signs of poisoning with poor-quality food or various intestinal infections. Sometimes the incubation period of intestinal infections can be up to 2 days, during which the patient may complain of weakness, loss of appetite, pallor of the skin.

What to do. If vomiting and diarrhea have already happened several times within 1 day, it is important to prevent dehydration. To do this, doctors recommend drinking as much liquid as possible. It will make up for losses and remove harmful substances from the body.

Reason #2: diseases of the stomach and intestines

Nausea, vomiting, fever with chills can occur in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, pancreatitis, gastric or duodenal ulcer).

What to do. Call a doctor or an ambulance.

Vomiting

The reasons: intoxication, acute surgical pathologies of the abdominal cavity, intestinal infections, poisoning, pathologies of internal organs. Often accompanied by loose stools, nausea, pallor, severe weakness, abdominal pain.

Chills with fever and vomiting most often occurs when poisoning with poor-quality food and intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery, cholera, etc.). Vomiting is possible with appendicitis, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction.

What to do. If vomiting is infrequent, drink a tablespoon of water every 5 to 10 minutes. If vomiting is frequent or indomitable, you need to call an ambulance.

Diarrhea

The reasons: intoxication, acute surgical pathologies of the abdominal cavity, intestinal infections, poisoning, food intolerance, allergies.

Chills with diarrhea, high fever, malaise, weakness – most often occurs with poisoning and intestinal infections. Although other serious pathologies are possible. Often combined with nausea, bouts of vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, weakness, fainting. Dangerous loss of fluid and salts.

What to do. If loose stools are infrequent, there is no vomiting, you need to drink water every 5 to 10 minutes in a small sip. If diarrhea is frequent or uncontrollable, you need to call an ambulance.

Headache

Reason: SARS, influenza, intestinal infections, inflammation, intoxication.

Chills, fever and headache are the main symptoms of a cold or SARS, flu and many other infections. For a headache with a cold and SARS, the following features are characteristic:

• the pain covers the entire head, has a bursting or pressing character;
• may be mild or moderate;
• increases when the patient looks at a bright light and may be accompanied by lacrimation;
• disturbs constantly and can appear at any time of the day.

Headache develops simultaneously with intoxication of the body during viral infections (influenza or SARS). If the headache is accompanied by a runny nose, the doctor may suspect sinusitis or otitis media.

What to do. Headache, unlike fever, is not a defensive reaction of the body. Therefore, you do not need to endure discomfort and drink painkillers as soon as possible. They can be headache remedies or complex drugs that will ease the symptoms of influenza or SARS. These include paracetamol, Ibuprofen or Nurofen, Theraflu, Coldact, Coldrex, etc.

Muscle pain

The reasons: influenza, SARS, inflammation, intoxication.

Often, muscle pain is accompanied by general malaise, fever, chills, drowsiness, weakness. Due to trembling, the muscles contract, get tired, they lack oxygen due to the redistribution of blood in favor of the internal organs.

What to do. Observe bed rest, give the body a rest, take an antipyretic, sleep.

Stomach ache

The reasons: intoxication, acute surgical pathologies of the abdominal cavity, intestinal infections, poisoning, food intolerance, allergies.

Chills with abdominal pain, high fever, malaise, weakness – most often occurs with poisoning and intestinal infections. Although other serious pathologies are possible. Often combined with nausea, bouts of vomiting, headache, weakness, fainting.

What to do. If the pain does not go away or worsens for two hours, you need to call an ambulance.

Back pain

The reasons: inflammation of the kidneys, pancreatitis, myositis, exacerbation of osteochondrosis, sciatica, sciatica.

Most often, low back pain with fever and chills is typical of inflammation of the kidneys. Then there will be changes in the urine, nausea, lack of appetite.

What to do. If the pain does not go away, the temperature does not decrease, the condition worsens, call an ambulance.

Chill Treatment Methods

They depend on what caused the chill and how severe it is.

What to do with severe chills

• Drink more. With chills with fever, it is very important to drink more liquids, for example, tea, herbal decoction, compote, fruit drink. Fluid removes harmful substances from the body. Decoctions based on berries are very useful: currants, cranberries, viburnum, raspberries. They contain a large amount of vitamins and other useful substances that will help you recover faster. Coffee and alcoholic drinks, sweet carbonated water should not be drunk. They will only weaken an already exhausted body.
• Ventilate the room. But you need to do this during the absence of the patient. Fresh and moderately moist air will make breathing easier.
• Observe bed rest. It is necessary to postpone all physical and intellectual affairs and be sure to take sick leave. During rest, the body will direct all its forces to fight infection.

When and how to bring down the temperature

What temperature should be brought down, and what should be endured? Doctors recommend taking antipyretics only when the temperature rises above 38 ° C in children and above 38,5 ° C in adults. High temperature is a protective reaction of the body. It helps fight viruses and bacteria.

If you cannot do without an antipyretic in your case, it is recommended to take a tablet of paracetamol or another combination drug in which it is contained (Coldrex, Teraflu, Coldact, Rinza, etc.).

If you have done everything necessary, and the temperature still does not decrease, and you still feel bad, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will determine the cause of the chills and high temperature and make an accurate diagnosis. Only a specialist can prescribe treatment for severe prolonged chills and high temperature. If the temperature has risen to 39,5 ° C or higher, the patient has convulsions and loss of consciousness, urgently call an ambulance.

Why Chills May Not Go Away

Chills may not pass with a further increase in temperature, with increased intoxication, ineffectiveness of therapeutic measures. In addition, chills reappear if the temperature, after a decrease, begins to rise again.

Chill prevention at home

Chills with fever can be prevented if you protect yourself from hypothermia, strengthen your immune system, harden yourself and eat food rich in vitamins and minerals. It is important to follow the rules of personal and general hygiene, wash hands before eating, monitor the shelf life of products.

Popular questions and answers

We spoke with physician-therapist Ekaterina Buchholz about the danger of chills, the reasons for calling a doctor and the possibility of treatment with folk remedies.