You may experience chills without fever due to exposure to cold temperatures, intense exercise, or certain health conditions. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Chills (shivering) are caused by rapid alternation between muscle contractions and relaxation.

Potential causes of chills without a fever include hypothyroidism and exercising in intense cold. Treatment may be unnecessary unless a fever develops or chills recur.

Chills and body aches can also occur without fever, such as with infections like COVID-19 or bacterial meningitis. This happens when a virus or bacteria acts on the part of the brain that regulates body temperature, called the hypothalamus.

Cold temperatures, viruses, infections and other illnesses can bring on chills. When you shiver, your muscles relax and contract. This involuntary movement warms your body. Chills and fever often go together. But not everyone with a fever gets chills. And you can get chills with no fever.

Emotional responses like anxiety, stress, or fear can trigger chills, even without a fever. During stressful situations, the body releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which causes blood vessels to constrict. This diversion of blood away from the skin’s surface can lead to a sudden sensation of chilliness.