Cold & Flu Symptoms Why Do Fevers Cause Chills? By Kristina Duda, RN Kristina Duda, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 07, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jenny Sweigard, MD Medically reviewed by Jenny Sweigard, MD LinkedIn Jenny Sweigard, MD, is a board-certified physician involved in patient care, including general medicine and critical care medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Fevers are often accompanied by chills—shaking, shivering, and feeling cold. This odd sensation of feeling like you are overheating and freezing at the same time occurs because of the sharp contrast between your environment and your body: When your body temperature is higher than normal, the air and environment around you will feel colder than it usually does. As a result, muscles rapidly contract and relax in an effort to produce body heat, which you experience as "the chills." Chills tend to be more common in children and typically occur at the start of an illness such as the flu. A fever is the body's natural reaction to infection. When a virus or bacteria invades, one of the immune system's defenses is to raise the body temperature since pathogens are less able to multiply at temperatures greater than 98.6 degrees F. Verywell / Hugo Lin Treatment Your first reaction to discomfort may be to put on more clothes or blankets to get warm. The problem with doing this is that bundling up will increase your body temperature further, possibly perpetuating discomfort and contributing to dehydration. The physical act of shivering or shaking due to chills itself can also raise your internal body temperature. Figuring out how to get comfortable and also bring your temperature down can be a bit of a balancing act. If the fever is 102 degrees F or less and you do not have any serious signs and symptoms (see below), you do not need to see a healthcare provider for treatment. You can treat your fever at home by: Taking fever-reducing medications: Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) can help reduce your fever and make you more comfortable. However, they can take an hour to work, so you may have to take other steps in the meantime. Warming up, but not bundling up: Using an extra blanket or two to stop yourself from shivering when you have a fever is fine, just don't overdo it. Remove coverings once you get comfortable. As for clothing, wear items that are appropriate for the weather rather than layering. Staying hydrated: Drinking plenty of clear liquids when you are sick with a fever is essential. Avoid alcohol. Sponge bathing: Dapping yourself with a washcloth soaked in lukewarm water (about 70 degrees F) may help bring down a fever, as evaporation cools the skin and reduces body temperature. Note, though that cold water may increase fever because it can trigger chills. 4 Safe Ideas to Bring Down a Fever - and 3 Dangerous Ones When To See A Healthcare Provider Fevers are not inherently dangerous. They are a natural defense against illness. And while most fevers resolve on their own after a few days, fever and chills can sometimes be a sign of a more serious condition, such as meningitis. Call your healthcare provider or seek medical attention if a fever is accompanied by these symptoms: Stiffness of the neckConfusion or irritabilitySluggishnessA bad coughShortness of breathAbdominal pain or burningFrequent urination In addition, call your healthcare provider or seek medical attention for the following: In a child younger than 3 months: A temperature of 100.3 degrees F or greaterChildren ages 3 months to 1 year: A fever of 101 degrees F or greater that lasts more than 24 hoursIn older children and adults: A fever greater than 103 degrees F that does not respond to fever-reducing medicine, or a fever that does not improve after three days or has lasted more than five days A Word from Verywell Fever and chills often occur together, but they aren't necessarily something to be worried about. If you are concerned that shaking or shivering is uncontrollable or if it does not stop once the fever is down, contact your healthcare provider or seek medical attention. Frequently Asked Questions What do "the chills" mean? When people say they have "the chills," they are referring to the body shaking or shivering as a response to a fever or cold temperature. When the body feels cold, it will rapidly contract and relax certain muscles to produce heat. Chills are an involuntary action that often accompany a fever. Why do fevers spike at night? Fevers spike at night because the body's internal temperature reaches its highest around 6 p.m. The average normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees, and this number can be slightly lower or higher depending on the time of day. When you have a fever, this number can be over 100.4 degrees. What happens when a fever breaks? When a fever breaks, or begins to reach its conclusion, your body can sweat more than usual. This is a sign that the body is fighting against the infection; by sweating, the body is cooling itself down from the increased temperature caused by the fever. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Chills. Evans SS, Repasky EA, Fisher DT. Fever and the thermal regulation of immunity: the immune system feels the heat. Nat Rev Immunol. 2015;15(6):335-349. doi:10.1038/nri3843 MedlinePlus. Fever. MedlinePlus. Body Temperature Norms.