If a bedridden patient has chills and is shivering, what is the expected body temperature?

When a bedridden patient exhibits chills and shivering, the expected body temperature is increased. Chills and shivering are physiological responses to help increase body temperature when the body is experiencing a drop in temperature or is responding to an infection. In these situations, the body's thermoregulatory center in the hypothalamus is triggered to raise the core temperature.

This increased body temperature is part of the body's defense mechanism, often signaling the presence of fever, which can be associated with various illnesses, especially infections. It reflects the body's attempt to create an environment less favorable for pathogens and to enhance immune function. Thus, a patient exhibiting chills and shivering is likely experiencing an increase in body temperature as the body reacts to these signals.