Why Do We Get Cold When We Are Sick?

We get cold when we are sick because our body is working really hard to fight off germs.

Imagine you're playing a game of tag with your friends, it’s fun, but after a while, you start to feel tired. That's kind of what happens inside your body when you’re sick. Your body's defenders, like soldiers, are running around trying to catch the germs that made you feel unwell. This is called fighting an infection.

When our body fights germs, it uses up a lot of energy, just like how you use energy when you run and play. If we don't have enough energy, we start to feel weak and tired, that’s why we might feel cold or shivery.

Your body also starts to make more heat to help fight the germs, but if your body doesn’t have enough energy to keep going, it can’t stay warm. That makes you feel like you're sitting in a chilly room, even if the room is actually warm!

So next time you’re sick and feeling cold, remember: your body is working hard to beat the germs, just like you work hard when you're playing!