Chills ICD-10-CM Codes

Learn about the various ICD-10 codes used for diagnosing chills, their clinical implications, and the importance of accurate coding in healthcare.

By Ericka Pingol on Aug 8, 2025.

Fact Checked by Gale Alagos.

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What ICD-10 codes are used for chills?

Chills are a common symptom experienced in a myriad of medical conditions. They can indicate an infection, a reaction to medication, or even a symptom of certain systemic diseases. Specific ICD-10 codes are used to document chills in patient records to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Here are some of the most frequently used codes:

R68.83 - Chills without fever: Typically, it's used when a patient experiences chills as a standalone symptom without an accompanying rise in body temperature.
R50.81 - Fever presenting with conditions classified elsewhere: If a patient presents with fever and chills, but the primary diagnosis is another condition, this code is appropriate.
R50.9 - Fever, unspecified: It's used when a patient presents with fever, possibly accompanied by chills, but the exact cause of the fever is unknown or unspecified.
R50.2 - Drug-induced fever: It's typically used when a patient experiences fever as a side effect of medication.
R50.0 - Fever of other and unknown origin: It’s used when a patient presents with a fever and no identifiable underlying cause despite initial evaluation.
R56.00 - Simple febrile convulsions: This can also sometimes include chills.

Each of these codes provides clinicians with a precise way to diagnose, treat, and track the progression of conditions associated with chills. For an extensive guide on using ICD-10 codes for chills, check out our Chills ICD Codes.

Which Chills ICD Codes are billable?

All the ICD-10-CM codes listed are valid and billable.

Clinical information

Chills are more than just a sensation of cold. They're often an indicator of various underlying health conditions, providing critical clues to a patient's overall health status:

Chills are more than just a sudden sensation of feeling cold—they’re often nonspecific symptoms that signal the body’s response to an underlying health issue. Chills often fall under general symptoms and signs, often prompting further clinical investigation due to their diagnostic ambiguity. While commonly associated with unspecified fever, chills can present in various conditions, sometimes in isolation, and may even be an early indicator of more serious pathology.
Chills are frequently linked to infectious diseases, ranging from mild viral illnesses like the common cold to more severe infections like pneumonia or sepsis. These nonspecific symptoms, including chills and malaise, can appear before other more recognisable signs, making them vital clues during early assessment. In the context of infections, chills typically accompany systemic immune responses and can be supported by laboratory findings such as elevated white or red blood cell counts.
However, chills without fever can also be significant. They may occur in metabolic conditions like hypoglycaemia or hypothyroidism, where impaired thermoregulation leads to cold intolerance. Additionally, drug-induced fever may trigger chills as part of an adverse immune response, especially with antibiotics, antipsychotics, or other nonspecific medications. Such symptoms are sometimes classified under other general symptoms and signs when an immediate cause is not apparent.
Chills may also present alongside other vague symptoms like early satiety, jaw pain, or dizziness—signs that, when considered together, may suggest broader systemic concerns. For example, chills in combination with abnormal clinical findings on imaging or labs might prompt evaluation for haematologic malignancies or autoimmune disease. In infants or young children, chills episodes may resemble an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) or brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE), particularly when accompanied by pallor, cyanosis, or limpness.
Given their nonspecific nature, accurate ICD-10 coding for chills is essential. Whether the chills are peculiar, isolated, or occur alongside other general symptoms, proper classification helps ensure accurate documentation, targeted diagnostic workups, and appropriate treatment.

Understanding these clinical aspects of chills can help healthcare professionals provide more effective patient care and navigate the complexities of medical coding and billing.

Synonyms include:

Shivering
Cold spells
Shakes
Tremors
Febrile chills
Fever of unknown origin

Commonly asked questions

The ICD-10 diagnosis code for chills is R68.83 (Chills without fever), classified under other nonspecific symptoms and signs. This code is used when chills occur as a standalone symptom without an accompanying fever.

The appropriate ICD-10 diagnosis code for fever and chills depends on the clinical context. If both symptoms are present without a clear underlying cause, R50.9 (Fever, unspecified) is commonly used, and it also falls under other nonspecific symptoms.

In ICD-9, the diagnosis code for chills is typically 780.64 (Chills without fever), which is also grouped under other general symptoms.

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