Delirium Health Dictionary

A state of acute mental confusion, commonly brought on by physical illness.

Symptoms vary according to personality, environment, and the severity of illness.

They may include failure to understand events or remember what has been happening, physical restlessness, mood swings, hallucinations, and terrified panic.

High fever and disturbances of body chemistry are commonly present.

Children and older people are most susceptible to delirium, particularly during infection, after surgery, or when there is a pre-existing brain disturbance such as dementia.

Drugs, poisons, and alcohol are common precipitants.

A condition of altered consciousness in which there is disorientation (as in a confusional state), incoherent talk and restlessness but with hallucination, illusions or delusions also present.

Delirium (confusion) In some old people, acute confusion is a common e?ect of physical illness. Elderly people are often referred to as being ‘confused’; unfortunately this term is often inappropriately applied to a wide range of eccentricities of speech and behaviour as if it were a diagnosis. It can be applied to a patient with the early memory loss of DEMENTIA – forgetful, disorientated and wandering; to the dejected old person with depression, often termed pseudo-dementia; to the patient whose consciousness is clouded in the delirium of acute illness; to the paranoid deluded sufferer of late-onset SCHIZOPHRENIA; or even to the patient presenting with the acute DYSPHASIA and incoherence of a stroke. Drug therapy may be a cause, especially in the elderly.

Delirium tremens is the form of delirium most commonly due to withdrawal from alcohol, if a person is dependent on it (see DEPENDENCE). There is restlessness, fear or even terror accompanied by vivid, usually visual, hallucinations or illusions. The level of consciousness is impaired and the patient may be disorientated as regards time, place and person.

Treatment is, as a rule, the treatment of causes. (See also ALCOHOL.) As the delirium in fevers is due partly to high temperature, this should be lowered by tepid sponging. Careful nursing is one of the keystones of successful treatment, which includes ensuring that ample ?uids are taken and nutrition is maintained.

n. an acute disorder of the mental processes characterized by fluctuating levels of consciousness, responsiveness, and cognitive ability. It may be manifested by delusions, disorientation, hallucinations, or extreme excitement. There are many possible causes, ranging from head injury to hip or other fracture, infection, constipation, dehydration, pain, or drug side-effects. Treatment is by removal of the underlying cause and supportive medical measures.