Night chills can be caused by fever, infections, hormonal changes, medications, and immune system disorders. Finding the root cause is important for treatment, which may include medication or hormone therapy. If symptoms persist, inform a doctor.
Nocturnal chills are characterized by episodes of shivering or feeling cold at night, often mixed with episodes of feeling intensely hot. In most cases, chills are not a sign of a serious illness, although any concerns should be discussed with a doctor. Some potential causes of night chills include fever and infections, hormonal changes, or the use of certain medications. Controlling the cause of the chills often helps reduce or eliminate this painful symptom.
Fever is a common reason for having chills at night. Fever can be caused by a variety of factors, including digestive disorders, immune system problems, or some forms of cancer. Infection is also a common cause of fever. These infections can include the common cold, ear infections, or appendicitis. Pneumonia or a blood infection known as sepsis has also been known to cause chills.
Hormonal changes often lead to night chills. These hormonal changes are most common during menopause, the time in a woman’s life when menstrual periods stop occurring, marking the biological end of a woman’s reproductive years. Hormone therapy may help relieve this symptom in some women, as decreased estrogen levels are thought to be responsible for most menopausal symptoms.
Some medications may list night chills as a possible side effect of the medication. In some cases, this symptom may be an indication of a serious and potentially dangerous complication of using the drug. For this reason, any episodes of night shivering that develop after starting a new medication should be discussed with a doctor right away. Your doctor will then decide whether the drug should be stopped or replaced with another type of drug. Prednisone and other steroid drugs are especially prone to lead to symptoms such as chills.
Immune system disorders can lead to the development of chills, especially at night. Some immune disorders that can include chills include arthritis, lupus and AIDS. Diabetes can also lead to this symptom. Proper management of these conditions can help reduce the frequency of shivering at night.
Treatment for night chills begins with finding the root cause. A doctor may order blood or urine tests in an attempt to pinpoint any disease processes that may be causing the chills. Once the original disease process has been successfully treated, symptoms should resolve without any additional treatment. If chills persist after medical treatment, the doctor should be informed.
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