How is this different from a feeling of coldness?

A feeling of coldness is a broad term for feeling cold in a specific area or throughout the entire body. Chills refer to a sudden and intense sensation of cold that causes the body to shiver, and they may appear before or after a fever.

Can chills occur even if the body temperature is normal?

Body temperature may not be high yet depending on the timing of the measurement or if it is before a fever begins. Temperature should be measured repeatedly and other symptoms must be checked together.

What is examined first?

We check for cough, sore throat, painful urination, abdominal pain, wounds, inflammation, recent procedures, and medications being taken. Immediate medical evaluation is required if there is high fever, changes in consciousness, or difficulty breathing.

When does the evaluation of cold and heat patterns proceed?

After first identifying causes such as acute infections, if sensitivity to cold and a feeling of coldness persist, the overall cold and heat patterns of the entire body can be examined.

For chills, we check whether shivering occurs even in the absence of a cold environment.

Chills are a reaction where one feels cold and the body shivers or teeth chatter, which can occur during the process of the body temperature rising. There is a difference in the urgency of identifying the cause between a case where the body cooled down simply by being in a cold room and a case where shivering continues even when kept warm, accompanied by fever and pain.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: A feeling of coldness is a symptom where a specific area or the whole body feels cold, whereas chills are an acute reaction that may be accompanied by muscle shivering. The presence of chills does not immediately lead to a diagnosis of 'Han-jeung' (cold syndrome) or 'Yang-heo' (yang deficiency); medical causes such as infection, drug reactions, or hypoglycemia are first examined through body temperature and accompanying symptoms.
Information to record before your visit: Please record the time the shivering started, the duration, the body temperature and indoor environment at the time, and the sequence of events before and after the fever. Providing information on cough, flank pain, painful urination, abdominal pain, diarrhea, skin wounds, recent procedures or surgeries, new medications, and whether you have diabetes will help in locating the site of infection and other causes.
Scope of this material: MedlinePlus materials were used to explain the relationship between chills and fever and the accompanying symptoms to verify with medical staff. Covering oneself with thick blankets does not replace a causal evaluation, nor are chills fixed as a constitutional trait. If severe shivering occurs along with changes in consciousness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, neck stiffness, or cyanosis, an emergency evaluation must be sought immediately.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of chills, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideChills

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Heat and Cold ColumnWhy are your feet cold? Is it simply a blood circulation problem?

For those who suffer from coldness in the hands, feet, and abdomen but find no improvement with general circulation aids, we analyze the reasons and detailed causes of cold feet from the perspective of coldness (Han) in Korean medicine and provide a guide for self-assessment.

Heat and Cold ColumnHot ears: Causes and Korean medicine treatment when accompanied by redness, pain, or headaches

We distinguish between skin redness, pain, headaches, and tension in the jaw and neck when the ears feel hot, and explain the approach to Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment for recurring ear heat.

Medical GuideWhat should be checked when the entire body feels excessively hot or cold?

Sensitivity to heat or cold throughout the body can be caused by various factors, including the thyroid, medication, anemia, and menopause. If discomfort persists despite no major abnormalities in tests, we can determine the direction of Korean medicine treatment by analyzing systemic heat/cold tendencies along with sleep, digestion, sweat, and fatigue.

Medical GuideWhere should I start checking when sensations of heat and cold recur?

Even if there are no clear abnormalities in tests, recurring sensations of heat and cold are a definite discomfort. By gathering information on the area, time of day, duration, and accompanying changes such as sleep, sweat, and digestion, we can examine the branches of symptoms more precisely from the perspective of heat and cold and determine the direction of Korean medicine treatment.

Comparison of similar terms

Symptom ExpressionFever

Fever is a rise in body temperature confirmed by a thermometer, which is different from a sensation of heat felt when the body temperature is normal. Since causes vary, including infection, inflammation, and medication, we examine the numerical value, duration, and accompanying symptoms together.

Symptom ExpressionCold Sensation

Cold sensation is a symptom where the hands, feet, abdomen, lower back, or the entire body feels cold and chilly. We examine accompanying patterns such as changes in skin color, numbness, differences between the left and right sides, and digestion or fatigue.

Symptom ExpressionCold Intolerance

Cold intolerance is a systemic symptom of being exceptionally sensitive to cold. After checking thyroid function, anemia, weight changes, and medications, any remaining coldness can be further examined from the perspective of Cold Syndrome (Han-jeung) and pattern identification (Byeon-jeung).

Medical TerminologyDifferential Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is the process of distinguishing possible causes one by one through examination, testing, and monitoring progress, rather than determining a disease name based on a single symptom. This is the first and most necessary step for both sensations of heat and cold.