Duration
The duration of chills can vary greatly, depending on the type of underlying disease. In the context of a cold or flu, chills often occur when the fever rises. It then usually comes to attacks that last for a few minutes and then flatten out again.
Chills can last the whole time of the underlying disease. Mostly, however, it is found at the beginning of a flu and less so when the infection has already healed. If the chills persist for a long time and are accompanied by a very high fever, a doctor should be consulted.
Chills during heat stroke usually last quite short and should subside after one day, depending on the severity of the heat stroke. In a tropical disease, chills and the course of the fever can be very different. If the possibility of a tropical disease exists, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.
It is hardly possible to specifically prevent the development of chills. As mentioned above, chills are most often caused by a cold or flu, which are accompanied by fever. If you consider that the average adult suffers from a cold about two to five times a year, then you can calculate that chills can also occur with corresponding frequency.
Since most colds are caused by a weakened immune system, however, you can generally take care to strengthen your immune system or not expose yourself to excessively stressful situations.Cold and stress weaken the immune system; a healthy diet, plenty of sleep and sufficient exercise have a positive effect on our immune system. The vast majority of colds are caused by pathogens, i.e. they are either caused by bacteria or viruses. You can protect yourself against both by taking hygienic measures and by staying as far away as possible from those who already have the disease, as they are potentially contagious.
The infection is caused by coughing or sneezing, for example. Many pathogens can also be prevented by vaccinations. In conclusion, it can be said that chills are always simply the symptom of a cold and therefore usually do not need to worry the person concerned.
It is the concomitant symptom of fever and in this context it is a sensible defence reaction of the body against various bacterial or viral pathogens. The name actually describes what happens to the body when it shakes: In the context of febrile illnesses, the set point for the body temperature is increased so that the body generates heat. This is done effectively by means of regular muscle contractions.
Nevertheless, the person affected feels shivering because the body mistakenly thinks that its current temperature is too low. At the latest when the fever drops again, the chills disappear. The “diagnosis” and the therapy are normally carried out by the patient himself, because often a sweating cure is enough to stop the chills. However, if the symptom really persists for a long time, one should consider consulting a physician to rule out more serious underlying diseases, especially if the chills and fever have occurred following a trip to the tropics.
