Chills

Definition of chills

Chills are known in technical terms as febris undularis and describe an uncontrollable shaking of the body when feeling cold. Involuntary muscle twitching is a protective function of the organism to increase body temperature.

Causes of chills

In most cases, chills and fever occur as part of a bacterial or viral infection.

In the course of fighting off the disease, so-called pyrogens are released, which subsequently lead to an increase in fever. The rise in temperature above the normal body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius is brought about by the heat regulation center in the brain. On the one hand, there is reduced blood circulation in the skin, which means that less heat can be released via the body surface. On the other hand, the body tries to generate more heat through muscle movements during chills.

The following diseases can occur with the symptom chills:

• Flu: Typical symptoms of influenza flu are a very sudden onset of illness with chills and a severe feeling of illness, fever, headache and body aches.
• Colds: On average, every adult gets three colds a year . Although the symptoms are usually milder than the flu, fever and chills can occur.
• Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) : In addition to chills and fever, pneumonia can also cause chest pain and a cough with sputum.
• Scarlet fever: The disease, which often occurs in children, typically presents with a sore throat and a prominent skin rash.
• Erysipelas: A local, usually painful inflammation of the skin caused by bacteria can sometimes lead to chills and fever.
• Blood poisoning (sepsis): If a local inflammation spreads through the bloodstream, chills and an increase in fever can occur. This is often a dangerous course.
• Hypothermia: In the case of hypothermia, the body tries to warm itself up again with chills. Other symptoms include cold, bluish limbs.
• Stopping medication or drugs: Chills can also present as a withdrawal symptom after stopping certain substances.
• Inflammation of the renal pelvis: In addition to fever and chills, flank pain and pain when urinating often occur with inflammation of the renal pelvis.
• Lockjaw (tetanus): Lockjaw caused by bacteria has become a rare disease since the introduction of vaccinations. Typical symptoms of tetanus are flu-like symptoms and muscle cramps.
• Tropical diseases: After a holiday abroad, various tropical diseases such as malaria or yellow fever can occur.
• Sunstroke /Heatstroke: A long day in the sun leads to the typical symptoms of chills, nausea and vomiting, as well as dizziness and malaise.
• Mushroom poisoning: Mushroom poisoning can manifest itself through a wide variety of symptoms. Depending on the type of mushroom and the amount consumed, nausea , vomiting and muscle cramps can also occur.
• Overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism): Patients with an overactive thyroid gland can suffer from tachycardia, restlessness, chills and diarrhea , among other things .
• Acute glaucoma: When there is an increase in intraocular pressure, it can cause headaches, vision loss, nausea and vomiting, and hardening of the eyeball.
• Inflammation of the mammary glands (mastitis): Inflammation of the mammary glands in breastfeeding mothers can cause chills. In addition, a painful and reddened breast occurs.

Symptoms of chills

The involuntary muscle tremors associated with chills can hardly be suppressed and usually last for a few minutes. The chills usually end after a few minutes to hours. The muscles in the back, thighs and jaw are mainly affected by the twitches. In addition, patients report an increasing feeling of cold at normal room temperature.

Diagnosis of chills

During the anamnesis interview , the doctor treating you will ask about the beginning, course and extent of your symptoms. He will ask about your health history and recent travels.

A physical examination should detect signs of an infectious disease. For this purpose, the airways, starting in the ENT area, but also the lungs should be examined. Feeling the typical lymph node stations, normal anatomical positions of lymph node accumulations could indicate an inflamed body region in the case of sensitively enlarged lymph nodes. Feeling the abdominal wall in all regions (four quadrants are distinguished by a doctor) as well as tapping on the flanks where the kidneys are located can reveal pain as an indication of the disease.

In the video call, the doctor must assess the urgency of a physical examination, since under video conditions he/she only has limited examination options in cooperation with the patient.

Depending on the suspected cause, further examinations such as a blood sample may also be necessary.

What to do with chills?

• Drink plenty of liquids , such as water or hot tea.
• Give your body a break and rest .
• Provide sufficient warmth , for example with a warm blanket or a warm foot bath.
• If the symptoms occur after a long sunbath, you should immediately move to a cool environment. Try covering your body with cool compresses or towels. Again, it is important to drink enough.

therapy for chills

Treatment for chills primarily depends on the underlying cause. Muscle tremors are usually the first symptom of an infectious disease, so warmth is the main remedy for chills (if the temperature is not already high).

If a bacterial infection is present, the administration of antibiotics can be considered. Depending on the origin of the chills, individual treatment can be considered.

When to seek immediate help

• The chills are very severe and last for several hours .
• In addition to chills and fever, nausea and vomiting occur.
• In addition to the chills, there is a strong feeling of illness.
• There is a high fever (from 40°) that does not go down despite antipyretic medication.
• The chills appear as a result of prolonged sunbathing or as a result of hypothermia .
• Serious symptoms such as shortness of breath or neck stiffness occur.
• Chills appear after consuming mushrooms, drugs, or after taking medication .
• The symptoms appear after a trip to tropical regions .

How can Med-Healths help?

You can use the Med-Healths app to contact a doctor and talk about your symptoms in detail in a video call. The practitioner can help you classify your symptoms, make the correct diagnosis, and initiate the necessary treatment. The doctor can use the app to prescribe you medication and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist for further treatment. It is also possible to issue a sick note.