There are many conditions that may lead to chills and sweats, and one of the most common is an infection. For instance, if a person has a bacterial or viral infection, he may develop sweating and chills as symptoms of it. Likewise, a person may develop these symptoms when he has a serious type of medical condition or disease, such as a type of cancer called lymphoma. Hormonal fluctuations may also lead to chills and sweats. For instance, a person may develop these symptoms during menopause or as a result of a thyroid disorder; both of these conditions involve hormonal changes.

Infection is one of the common causes of chills and sweats. These symptoms may develop when a patient has a viral or bacterial infection. For example, a person may develop chills and sweats when he has the flu or a gastrointestinal illness that is caused by a virus. Sometimes, however, a bacterial infection is at fault. For instance, some people have these symptoms because of bacterial pneumonia, strep throat, or even bacterial infections that affect the urinary tract.

Sometimes a person who has chills and sweats may develop these symptoms because of a more serious health condition. For example, a person may get chilled and sweat when he has a type of cancer called lymphoma. Lymphoma forms in lymphocytes, which are cells of the immune system.

In some cases, a person may also develop chills and sweats that are related to menopause. These symptoms often develop as a result of hormone fluctuations that cause hot flashes and sweating that may then be followed by chills. For example, a woman’s production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decreases during menopause, which may lead to sweating and the development of chills as well as a range of other unpleasant symptoms. Often, a woman also experiences night sweats, followed by chills, as a symptom of menopause.

A disorder of the thyroid gland may also contribute to the development of chills and sweats. For example, a person who has a condition called hyperthyroidism may have these symptoms. Hyperthyroidism is marked by the abnormally increased secretion of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. As a result of the additional thyroid hormone in the body, a person’s metabolism changes and an increased amount of heat is produced. This heat change may cause the affected person to suffer night sweats and chills.