MONDAY, DAY 1
WEEK 20
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Chills are the feeling of cold—often accompanied by shivering or paleness—that comes after exposure to frigid temperatures or during a viral or bacterial infection. In an effort to generate heat in the body, the muscles contract and relax rapidly, sometimes causing visible shaking.
When someone comes down with an infection, the body often combats it by raising core temperature. This fever resets the internal thermostat in the hypothalamus, a control center of sorts that resides in the middle of the base of the brain. In response to this resetting of its temperature, the body automatically reacts with a number of mechanisms. The autonomic nervous system is triggered to release stress hormones, which often causes sweating. Since it is primarily the brain that’s causing the chill, a scary situation or a strong emotion may set off a chill as well. When the chill is accompanied by a cold sweat and hair standing on end, it results from this activation of the autonomic nervous system. What’s more, the hypothalamus resets the hunger hormones, so you experience a dip in appetite. That’s why children often don’t feel hungry when they’re sick.
If your child experiences a chill due to sickness, try to monitor his or her body temperature, and consult your doctor if the child is feverish. A dose of over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help lower a fever. Chills are sometimes associated with more serious illnesses, such as malaria, infections of the bloodstream, leukemia, and cancerous tumors called lymphomas.