4. Chills
Shivers and chills is a common symptom usually appearing alongside fever. It reaches a higher intensity right before the organism reach the peak temperature and begins to slow down afterwards. Chills is one of the reflexes the body has to increase body temperature. It is what gives us goosebumps when it’s too cold, and what makes our body and lower lip shake uncontrollably when we are not properly dressed in cold weather. And the body uses this natural response as a way to create more heat.
The continuous tearing of the internal lining of the urinary tract as the kidney stones descend to be eliminated along with the inflammation from an associated infection contribute to the release of various cytokines to the blood. They alert the brain that something is not working as it should, and we should protect ourselves from potential threats or invader microorganisms. One of the main lines of defense is modifying our body thermostat and tricking the rest of the body into thinking that it is too cold outside and we need to create more heat.
The muscle tissue receives this signal and triggers a series of jerking movements usually known as shivers or chills. It contributes to increasing body temperature, and they are often associated with sweating after the fever episode has subsided.
Fever is a common symptom in many ailments, most of them infectious in nature. Therefore, it is important to have a complete assessment of the problem before starting any antibiotic treatment. Think about your symptoms and write them down with detail so you can talk about each one of them to your doctor without missing one. That would be really helpful to help you address every real problem that is triggering fever in your organism.
