Rigors vs. Chills — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on November 28, 2023
Rigors refer to intense episodes of cold and shivering, while chills are feelings of coldness, often accompanied by shivering.
Difference Between Rigors and Chills
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Rigors and chills are terms associated with the body's response to illness, particularly involving fever. Rigors are characterized as intense, often uncontrollable shaking or shivering episodes, usually as a result of a significant increase in body temperature. Chills, conversely, are described as sensations of coldness that might be accompanied by mild shivering, often signaling the onset of a fever.
Understanding the mechanism, rigors typically indicate the body's rapid attempt to raise its core temperature. This happens when the body is setting a new "thermostat" level in response to illness. Chills, meanwhile, are the body's perception of feeling cold when there's a discrepancy between the body's actual temperature and its new "set point".
In clinical settings, rigors often need more immediate attention as they can sometimes indicate a serious infection like bacteremia or sepsis. Chills, while also potentially indicative of underlying issues, can be associated with less severe infections or illnesses and often precede the onset of a fever.
Both rigors and chills can be symptoms of various conditions. It's not unusual for someone to experience chills initially as the body starts to fight an infection, with rigors occurring if the body requires a more aggressive response to raise its temperature. Both symptoms, if persistent, warrant medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause.
Comparison Chart
Intensity
Intense and often uncontrollable shivering
Mild shivering or sensation of cold
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Underlying Mechanism
Body's attempt to rapidly raise core temperature
Discrepancy between body's temperature and new "set point"
Clinical Concern
May indicate serious infections like sepsis
Often associated with the onset of fever or mild infections
Commonality
Less common symptom than chills
More common than rigors
Presentation
Usually accompanied by a significant spike in temperature
May or may not be accompanied by a noticeable temperature change
Compare with Definitions
Rigors
Uncontrollable shivering episodes
He was shaking uncontrollably, a clear sign of rigors.
Chills
Body's perception of coldness
Even in the warm room, she had chills.
Rigors
Body's response to significant temperature increase
The sudden onset of rigors alarmed the medical team.
Chills
Sensation of coldness
The draft from the window gave her chills.
Rigors
Intense shaking or shivering episodes
After the high fever set in, she experienced rigors.
Chills
Initial body response to infections
The chills indicated the start of the flu.
Rigors
A symptom of severe infections
Rigors are sometimes seen in cases of sepsis.
Chills
Mild shivering signaling fever onset
Before the fever hit, he felt chills.
Rigors
Body's aggressive response to raise its temperature
The patient's rigors were a response to the bacterial infection.
Chills
A moderate but penetrating coldness.
Rigors
Strictness or severity, as in action or judgment
"The desert fostered a closed world of faith and rigor and harsh judgment.
Chills
A sensation of coldness, often accompanied by shivering and pallor of the skin.
Rigors
A harsh or trying circumstance; a hardship or difficulty
The rigors of working in a coal mine.
Chills
A checking or dampening of enthusiasm, spirit, or joy
Bad news that put a chill on the celebration.
Rigors
(Archaic) A harsh or severe act.
Chills
A sudden numbing fear or dread.
Rigors
Strictness in adhering to standards or a method; exactitude
"To study the brain with scientific rigor, behaviorists logically restricted their experiments to ones in which the brain was the source of measurable effects" (Robert Pollack).
Chills
Moderately cold; chilly
A chill wind.
Rigors
A standard or exacting requirement, as of a field of study
The intellectual rigors of advanced mathematics.
Chills
Not warm and friendly; distant
A chill greeting.
Rigors
(Medicine) Shivering or trembling, as caused by a chill.
Chills
Discouraging; dispiriting
“Chill penury repressed their noble rage” (Thomas Gray).
Rigors
(Physiology) A state of rigidity in living tissues or organs that prevents response to stimuli.
Chills
(Slang) Calm or relaxed
“As my meditation routine grew more stable...my already laid-back demeanor grew positively chill” (David Gelles).
Rigors
(Obsolete) Stiffness or rigidity.
Chills
To affect with or as if with cold.
Rigors
Plural of rigor
Chills
To lower in temperature; cool.
Chills
To make discouraged; dispirit.
Chills
(Metallurgy) To harden (a metallic surface) by rapid cooling.
Chills
To be seized with cold.
Chills
To become cold or set
Jelly that chills quickly.
Chills
(Metallurgy) To become hard by rapid cooling.
Chills
To calm down or relax. Often used with out.
Chills
To pass time idly; loiter.
Chills
To spend time with someone in a relaxed manner; hang out together.
Chills
Plural of chill
Chills
(biology) A biological response to being tickled; being cold; or experiencing fear, euphoria or sexual arousal in which the person forms goose bumps.
I get chills every time I hear that song.
That feathery touch on my neck gave me the chills.
Being under dressed for this weather has given me the chills.
When I tripped so close to the edge of the cliff, I felt chills across my whole body.
When we made eye contact, my heart fluttered and chills ran down my spine.
Chills
(medicine) A feeling of being cold, a symptom of many conditions.
Chills
A less aggressive form of shivering than rigors
He felt chills but not the intense rigors she had.
Common Curiosities
Do rigors indicate a serious condition?
Rigors can sometimes signal a severe infection, so they should be taken seriously.
Are rigors and chills the same thing?
No, rigors are intense episodes of shivering, while chills are milder sensations of coldness.
Can rigors be treated?
Rigors are a symptom, not a disease. The underlying cause should be treated.
Can anxiety cause chills?
Yes, anxiety can manifest in various physical symptoms, including chills.
Are chills always followed by a fever?
Chills often precede the onset of a fever but not always.
What causes rigors?
Rigors can be caused by the body's rapid attempt to raise its core temperature, often due to infections.
Are chills a sign of the flu?
Chills can be a symptom of the flu, among other conditions.
Are chills related to cold environments?
While chills can be felt in cold environments, they can also be a symptom of illness irrespective of the surroundings.
What should I do if I experience chills?
Chills, if persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Are rigors common in children?
Rigors can occur in children, especially with high fevers, but persistent symptoms should be evaluated.
Is there a way to prevent rigors?
Preventing the underlying causes, like infections, can help reduce the occurrence of rigors.
Do rigors always indicate an infection?
Not always, but rigors frequently indicate the body's response to infections.
Can medications cause chills as a side effect?
Yes, some medications might have side effects that induce chills.
Are rigors more intense than chills?
Yes, rigors are typically more intense and uncontrollable compared to chills.
Are there specific conditions where chills are a primary symptom?
Chills can be a symptom in various conditions, including infections, inflammatory diseases, and certain medications.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
