Which symptom is characterized by episodes of shaking and feeling cold?

• A. Fever
• B. Appetite Change
• C. Chills
• D. Diaphoresis

Answer: (C)

Chills are the body's response to a rising fever from illness or infection. When the hypothalamus raises the body's temperature set point, you feel cold even though the environment is warm, so you shiver to generate heat and raise the core temperature. This shaking and cold sensation are characteristic of chills and often accompany an actual fever. Fever itself is the elevated body temperature, not the cold feeling. Diaphoresis is heavy sweating that can occur as fever resolves, and appetite changes aren’t specific to this thermoregulatory response.