1777
Refers to a feeling of coldness occurring during a high fever, but sometimes occurs alone in specific people.
It may occur at the start of an infection.
They are most often associated with a fever.
Chills are caused by rapid muscle contraction and relaxation.
During fever, it occurs due to the release of cytokines and prostaglandins.
Severe chills with violent shivering are called rigors.
It is part of the inflammatory response, increasing the set point for body temperature in the hypothalamus.
This increased temperature set point causes fever, and the chills are experienced as the new set point is reached.
The shivering that occurs with chills is a result of the body producing heat during muscle contraction in a physiological attempt to increase body temperature to the new set point.
It is commonly caused by inflammatory illnesses , such as the flu, urinary tract infections.
Malaria is associated with chills and rigors.
Some individuals experience it almost all the time.